What Maintenance Practices Can Help Extend the Lifespan of Battery Backups?Regular InspectionsProper VentilationAppropriate Temperature ControlTimely Battery Replacement.
Although most batteries used in modern day UPS systems are "maintenance free," they are still susceptible to deterioration from corrosion, internal shorts, sulphation, dry-out, and seal failure. This article outlines best practices for keeping these "battery banks" at optimum performance, so that if an outage does occur, the backup is ready. 1.
What is a battery backup?
A battery backup is a hardware device used to supply power to computers and peripherals for a short time if the power is low or removed. It allows the computer to shut down safely or keep the computer running if the power is off for less than a few minutes.
The process known as Battery Backup Management Service or Battery backup management service belongs to software PowerChute Personal Edition or APC PowerChute Personal Edition by Schneider Electric () or American Power Conversion ().
What is a backup power system?
Even standard commercial and manufacturing facilities have backup power systems for their emergency systems, alarms and controls, emergency lighting, steam and fir control systems. Most backup power systems use an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) and a string of batteries.
Standby battery backup systems play a critical role in keeping essential operations functional in the event of a utility outage. Facilities like data centers, hospitals, airports, utilities, oil and gas facilities, and railways can't operate without 100 percent backup power reliability.
When large batteries discharge, they release a significant amount of energy expended as heat. Healthy batteries should maintain a capacity above 90% of the manufacturer's rating; most manufacturers recommend replacing the battery if it falls below 80%. When conducting battery tests, look for these indicators of failure: