UPS Equipment Service Timeline

UPS batteries typically last 3-5 years and one bad
battery can corrupt the whole string leaving you at risk of down
time.

If you haven’t had a factory technician conduct a
battery preventive maintenance visit, now is the time to have one so
you can start planning and budgeting for replacement.

This is also a good time to assess your run time
requirement. Now that the UPS has been installed for a few years, you
probably have a good sense of how much run time you really need. When
you replace the batteries, do you need to increase your run time? Do
you have too much? Be sure to discuss the run time requirements with
a field service engineer to determine if you can save money by using
smaller or fewer batteries and still protect your critical load.

For many modular UPS systems, the intelligence and
power modules have a useful life of 5-7 years. Plan on replacing
these modules in the next year or two. If your UPS is covered by a factory service
contract, any failed modules
will be replaced as part of the service plan.

Similarly, the fans in your UPS may be showing signs
of wear and potential failure. The Factory Technician will likely
replace them during your annual preventive maintenance visit.

If the recommendation hasn’t come already, it is
likely that the factory technician will report that its time to
replace the capacitors in your UPS.  Failed capacitors will
prevent your UPS from operating properly in the event of a utility
outage. 

Most manufacturers assign a 10-year useful life to 3
Phase UPS systems.  As your UPS approaches 10 years in service,
its time to start planning and budgeting for a replacement.
Most manufacturers have trade in programs that can reduce the
replacement cost and take care of the safe removal and recycling of
your old equipment.

Alternatively, some manufacturers offer refresh
programs for modular UPS equipment.  By using your existing
chassis and only replacing power modules, intelligence modules, and
critical parts such as capacitors, your power protection can be
updated and maintained at a significant savings.  

Evaluate how the demand on your IT environment has
changed since your UPS was installed. Has the IT load increased? Do
you have more virtual servers? Is critical data on the cloud now? The
network equipment that connects you to the cloud may have a higher
level of criticality than it did when the UPS was installed.

If you are not ready to replace your UPS, its now more
important than ever to have annual preventive maintenance visits,
semi-annual battery preventive maintenance visits, and keep your on-site services
contract current so you can
be assured the support you need is available from the factory in the
event of a problem or failure.

If it’s time to start planning for the replacement or
refresh of your existing UPS equipment, please contact
me so we can review
your current requirement, the equipment you have installed now, and
your options for refresh, trade-in, or replacement.