A UPS system is vital to ensure the power security of your business because power outages can be extremely damaging to both equipment and data. Like anything mechanical or electronic, your UPS system requires regular, thorough maintenance and one of the most common causes of faults is the battery. Before you invest in a UPS battery replacement, read our guide on troubleshooting UPS battery problems.
UPS batteries are electro-chemical devices and like any battery, their ability to store and deliver power declines over time. Even new batteries which you keep unused in reserve won't last forever. Once a battery's power rating falls to about 80% of its original capacity, its performance will then drop rapidly.
Battery failure can be caused by any number of issues, including corrosion, short circuits, plate separation, drying out and excessive gassing. It's also possible for overcharging to damage them. Since the battery is crucial to the functioning of your UPS system, it's very important to know how to look after it and what to do in the event of a problem, short of UPS battery replacement.
Prevention
Ideally, you don't want to get into a position where your battery fails in the first place. Make it a priority to maintain all your batteries as instructed by the manufacturer. This includes checking the UPS float voltage and open-circuit battery voltages.
Regular physical checks are essential. You should check for any signs of corrosion in the batteries themselves and also in the racks, cabinets and terminals. Look for any swelling, leaks or cracks. Test all connections to ensure they conform to the specifications in the user's manual and check the electrolyte levels of each cell.
Measure the ambient temperature of locations where the batteries are either used or stored. The ideal temperature range is 20-25 degrees Celsius. Anything much above or below this range can significantly reduce battery life and impair performance.
Monitoring
Although the information supplied by the battery manufacturers is generally reliable, you shouldn't treat it as cast in stone. The claims they make for their products are based on tests carried out in controlled conditions in their laboratories and factories, which are rarely identical to the circumstances of the end user. Most UPS systems have the capability for remote monitoring, which allows you relatively easily to keep an eye on input and output voltages, load level and battery voltage of the UPS.
You can also set up a system of alerts to tell you if the room temperature falls too low or climbs too high. You can set SMS and email alarms to tell you when urgent remedial action is necessary. An internal procedure should be established to respond to such notifications as quickly as possible.
Testing
One of the best ways of testing your batteries is to simulate a mains failure. This is known as load bank testing and will tell you whether your batteries are in a fit condition for their purpose. UPS battery replacement will be necessary if the capacity is shown to be below 80% of its rated value.
Before You Opt for UPS Battery Replacement
If there is no output from the battery, the problem might lie elsewhere. It might not be correctly connected to the mains power supply. Alternatively, a circuit breaker might have tripped, shutting down the mains. Check the connection first, test the socket with another device and then inspect any circuit breakers and reset them to the on position if they have tripped. Finally, reset the built-in circuit breaker in the UPS unit.
If the battery is not charging, it is either not properly connected or it needs replacing. If you discover that the UPS is drawing power from the battery even when plugged into the mains, then this suggests there is a fault with the mains supply. The voltage may be unstable or a fuse might have blown.
If you hear a continuous beeping sound, it's a warning that there is a malfunction. It could mean the battery power is too low, but it could be alerting you to other problems. Refer to the manual to find out what might be causing the beeping.
Remember that prevention through maintenance is always preferable, but if you do need to troubleshoot, don't immediately assume that replacement is the only answer. Check these other possibilities first.
