Is your UPS futureproof? How an upgrade or maintenance package can help keep the power on
A neglected UPS can lead to unexpected downtime, costly repairs, and lost productivity. Regular monitoring safeguards your operations and ensures you're always ready for a power outage.
What damage could a single power interruption do to your business? If your answer includes lost data, production shutdown, damage to equipment, or even loss of life, you might need to consider this: When was the last time you monitored and serviced your industrial UPS?
Building in regular UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) monitoring could mean - in the case of a grid power outage - the difference between seamless operations and a business-ending disaster.
Many businesses need backup power protocols. A UPS plays a crucial role in keeping your power on and running in the event of a break in your supply.
Via its battery, your UPS provides backup power to bridge the gap between a mains failure and your generator kicking in.
Along with your backup generator, your UPS safeguards you against the potentially catastrophic results of power loss.
But just like your generator, your UPS needs regular checks. So, it’s a good idea to have a system in place to monitor:
Performance of critical components like the batteries, fans, and power modules.
Battery health. You can do this with testing, tracking metrics and temperature monitoring.
Overall efficiency. Collect and review historical data and carry out regular audits.
Visible signs of damage. Check the UPS and its batteries for cracks, corrosion, swelling or leaks. Also, ensure that cables and connections are secure and clean.
The last thing you want is for your backup system to fail in the event of a mains outage. If your UPS fails, you could be vulnerable to:
If you don’t regularly monitor your UPS, some of its crucial components could degrade without you knowing. It could result in interruptions to your power that can damage equipment and stall your operations, leading to financial losses.
Even a short power interruption in industrial settings can completely throw off production schedules and delay deliveries. It can affect customer trust and your reputation.
It’s much more cost-effective to regularly service and monitor your UPS than to pay for costly emergency repairs. If you leave it until your UPS needs urgent attention, not only will it cost more, but you will also likely need to divert resources from other areas of your operations.
This is another area where costs can creep up as a result of a poorly maintained UPS. They tend to operate inefficiently, which not only reduces sustainability, it also leads to higher costs.
If your UPS doesn’t provide the right power conditioning or protection, it can mean your connected equipment is exposed to voltage fluctuations and power surges. It causes extra wear and tear on that equipment, shortening its lifespan.
In some industries, having a reliable power supply is a regulatory requirement. If you don’t have a robust system for monitoring your industrial UPS, you might fall short of industry standards. This could have legal and reputational repercussions, plus increased insurance costs.
If your UPS is older, it could struggle to meet the demands of your updated equipment and industrial environment. Upgrading to a newer model can bring many benefits in terms of space, sustainability and efficiency.
If your UPS is coming to the end of its life cycle but you’re on the fence about replacing it, you might want to consider some of the advantages of modern UPS systems:
Newer UPS systems have advanced power management technology built in. Innovative designs and high-efficiency components reduce energy losses during power conversion. Ultimately, it means lower electricity bills and a smaller carbon footprint.
Advanced manufacturing processes and more robust components mean modern UPS systems are more reliable. Their self-testing capabilities and cutting-edge diagnostics quickly identify potential problems well before they result in system failure.
Sophisticated monitoring tools bring you up-to-the-minute insights on battery health, load levels and system performance. It makes facility management much easier as you can monitor it remotely. Plus, you’ll also get alerts so you can act before issues escalate.
Most modern UPS units are modular which means they’re scalable. This gives you much more flexibility as your business adapts and grows. It means it’s far easier to upgrade and expand your provision to easily accommodate increased power demands as your needs change.
Advanced self-testing and diagnostics mean you’ll need to carry out fewer and less frequent manual checks and maintenance. With remote monitoring, you can proactively prevent problems associated with degrading components and battery health.
Newer UPS systems tend to be more compact, so they take up less space. They have a higher power density so they deliver more power from a smaller unit. This means you can make better use of the space freed up when you replace your legacy UPS equipment.
For a lot of businesses, making sure the power stays on even during a mains failure is crucial. That is why making sure your safeguards are reliable is so important.
Ensuring continuous protection against power outages means operational efficiency and long-term cost savings. Not to mention avoiding possible business-ending reputational damage.
As well as servicing Dale-manufactured UPS, we can support equipment from other third-party vendors. So, no matter where your critical power supply equipment is from, we can help.
If you think you might be overdue for a new and updated UPS system, or you need to discuss a service and maintenance solution, get in touch today to talk to our team. Email us at hello@dalepowersolutions.com, or call us at +44 (0)330 999 3000.