Battery failure is the leading cause of UPS problems. UPS batteries are electro-chemical devices whose ability to store and deliver power slowly depreciates over time. No matter how well you maintain, store and use your batteries, they will still require replacement when they have reached their end of life which is between 2 to 5 years under optimal conditions. The batteries in the UPS are Sealed Lead Acid (SLA). The electrolytic reaction between the acid and the lead produce electricity that is used by the UPS in the case of a power outage. However, there is a down side to this chemical reaction called Sulfation.
If battery is left uncharged for quite some time (3 months), some of the sulphates from the sulphuric acid electrolyte solution will precipitate, or fall out of the solution. This deposits a white powdery substance on the plates of lead in the battery. Once covered in this sulfur layer, the efficiency of the unit is greatly degraded. If enough sulfation occurs the acid can no longer make contact with the lead and the battery can no longer produce electricity. The best thing you can do to reduce the effects of sulfation is cycling the UPS every so often. Cycling is discharging and recharging a SLA battery and periodic cycling of the batteries can remove problematic sulphate deposits from the plates.
UPS placement, temperature and cycling frequency are three factors that contribute heavily to UPS and battery life expectancy. Following some simple guidelines can help make sure you are getting the most out of your UPS, and maximizing its availability.
UPS Placement – The UPS should not be placed near open windows where moisture content is high; and the environment should be free of dust and corrosive fumes. The ventilation openings at the front, side, or rear of the UPS must not be blocked in order to provide proper air circulation, and avoid over-heating.
Temperature – Most UPSs have a recommended operating temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. A general rule to remember is that for approximately every 10 degrees Celsius above the recommended temperature, the life of the UPS and its battery will be reduced by 50 percent.
Cycling – When a power disruption occurs, the UPS will automatically switch to battery power to provide the attached equipment (load) energy. Once utility power has been restored the UPS battery will automatically recharge the battery to prepare for the next power outage, a process known as the discharge cycle. The more often discharge cycles occur, the quicker your battery will be depleted.
If your UPS runs down to 60% in less than 5 minutes, you should consider replacing your batteries or upgrading to a larger unit. You can find replacement battery kits for all major UPS manufacturers, including APC in our shop Sapiens I.T Lab. In addition, we carry a full line of top quality APC UPS units professionally refurbished with brand new batteries at bargain prices. Call 0721-387805 for more.
