Ensuring UPS Protection at Christmas
‘Tis the season to be jolly – and why not? You’ve worked hard all year; you deserve to ease off the peddle in December. Trouble is, that’s when people often become less vigilant and succumb to the distractions of the season; parties, shopping, planning the holiday, tying up loose ends and so on. It takes the focus away from power continuity and power protection and it is then that Murphy’s Law dictates something is bound to go wrong. So, here are a few simple steps to ensure your season goes with a bang but that you don’t end up powerless:
- Now is a good time to test your UPS system under load conditions to ensure it is working and can provide the capacity you need to keep critical systems up and running.
- Check cables and connectors for wear-and-tear and replace any that are worn or loose.
- Check that all critical equipment is connected into the UPS feed and that non-essential kit is not (remember: printers should not be plugged directly into any UPS as they can cause a surge on start-up and are usually categorised as non-essential).
- Check and test UPS batteries and battery strings and if necessary refresh with new ones.
- Check all other consumables such as fans and filters.
- If an alternative power supply (Diesel generator, fuel cell of flywheel) is on-site, include it in a test scenario, check fuel supplies and replenish if necessary ensuring there is plenty in store (fuel prices sometimes increase in winter and it may be difficult to source supplies particularly over the holiday period).
- If you have remote monitoring software installed, make sure it is the latest version and test communications equipment and cables. Check messages can be sent and received.
The Power Protection Guide covers all aspects of operating UPS systems including testing and maintenance. Merry Christmas!
