The battery of an industrial UPS is the part that ages. It sits idle for years and must work perfectly on the day of the failure, so its choice, its room and its monitoring deserve as much attention as the UPS itself.
This guide covers the main points.
Key takeaways
- The battery configuration follows from the load and the backup time.
- VRLA, flooded and lithium batteries differ in life, space and care.
- Temperature is the biggest factor in battery life.
- Monitoring and regular tests find weak batteries before they fail.
The configuration
Many batteries are connected in series to reach the DC voltage of the UPS, and strings may be put in parallel for more energy. The backup time is set by the load, the battery capacity and the age of the batteries. Battery racks or cabinets hold them safely and keep the connections neat.
Types of battery
- Valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries are sealed and need little care.
- Flooded lead-acid batteries can last long but need regular water and a dedicated room.
- Lithium batteries are lighter, take less space and can last longer, at a higher cost.
The battery room
Batteries need a cool, clean, dry room. Their life drops with heat, and a hot room can shorten it a great deal. Ventilation is needed to remove any gas given off in charging, and the room should be kept clear and safe, with space to inspect and work on the batteries.
Monitoring and testing
A battery monitoring system watches the voltage and the temperature, and some measure each battery. Tests under load show the real backup time. Weak batteries are replaced before they pull the others down, which is far cheaper than a failure. For the UPS itself, see our maintenance services.
When to call us
We can size the battery system, plan the room and set up testing and monitoring. Use the quote page, see our industrial UPS solutions, or look at the batteries we supply.
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