Just like all IT equipment your battery backup, called a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply), can age and fail. More importantly, the batteries inside the UPS can get old, stop holding charge or in a worst-case scenario can fail suddenly, burnout or even start a fire!
Knowing when to replace your batteries or upgrade your UPS is important and maintenance can save you the stress of having it fail unexpectedly.
The UPS is one of the most forgotten pieces of equipment in a business and for this reason we ask the question; “How old is your UPS?”
If your UPS is less than 3 years old
Ok, you’re doing good and should be in the clear during the first 3 years. Most UPS models have a self-test function and it might be worth while running a test outside of business hours.
The self-test should tell you how long your UPS would last during the event of a power failure under it’s current load, meaning that if no other devices are plugged into the UPS the backup time should be very close to the self-test estimate.
If your UPS is 3-5 years old
Monitor the status of your UPS and its batteries
If your UPS is 3-5 years old, a replacement battery is likely the best option for you. A UPS will keep topping up the internal batteries as the discharge sitting idle which is why your batteries will eventually begin to deteriorate.
Why should I replace my batteries?
Just like a car battery gets old and needs replacing, it is normal for batteries to deteriorate and you are expected to refresh the batteries at least once during the lifespan of a UPS.
A replacement reduces the risk of the batteries reaching a sudden end of life and increases the backup run-time when your UPS operates during a power failure.
Replacing Batteries
When replacing your batteries, make sure you are buying batteries suitable for use in a UPS. Your electrical supplier should be able to confirm this before you buy.
Use of a cheap unsuitable battery may result in lower runtime, damage the UPS, create hazardous conditions, or void safety certifications on the UPS. In short, make sure you purchase good quality batteries.
UPS batteries can be swapped reasonably easily and should be done outside of business hours. If you feel you cannot perform this task yourself, your IT provider or MSP will be able to help you replace and source the correct type of batteries for your specific UPS model.
+5 Years, Upgrade your UPS
If your UPS is +5 years old, now is the time to consider upgrading. This is when the UPS hardware begins to show its age and there is a high risk of internal components failing without warning plunging your server and business into darkness.
It is common to replace your UPS when your server is replaced, so the next question is “How old is your server?”