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Battery replacement services

Why UPS batteries are essential?

Batteries are an essential element of UPS systems. What can we do to make sure they are properly maintained?

Eaton provides the key to extending battery service life and ensuring proper system operation.

The UPS started out as a protective device, but, over time, it has evolved to provide ever-increasing value to companies in terms of power management. Nowadays, the UPS is an essential element when it comes to providing high-quality power and a consistent electricity supply in any business, thanks to its ability to comprehensively monitor and immediately respond to any problem. 

However, sometimes we can forget that looking after a UPS ultimately involves taking care of the component that allows it to function: the battery. Batteries are a very vulnerable part of a UPS. In fact, battery failures are one of the main causes behind capacity loss and accidents involving both the facility and the people inside. 

Understanding the UPS battery

As a leader in power management, Eaton stresses that understanding a UPS battery can help extend its life, avoid costly downtime, save time and money, and ultimately increase safety standards. We should always bear in mind that battery life is limited. In particular, the standard life of valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries that do not require maintenance is three to five years; lithium ion batteries is 10 years; and wet-cell batteries can last up to 20 years.
So, how do you get the most out of your UPS battery? The answer is to focus on looking after the four elements that directly affect battery service life. These four elements can significantly extend or reduce service life.

Location

The ambient conditions which the UPS is located in determine its operation, as well as its service life and battery life. Batteries should be stored at a suitable temperature—around 25°C (77°F)—and at a suitable level of humidity.

Chemistry 

UPS batteries are electrochemical devices whose capacity to store and deliver energy slowly decreases over time. Even when all guidelines for proper storage, use and maintenance are followed, batteries need to be replaced after a certain period of time and once their operating capacity has run out. 

Discharge cycles

During a power outage, an UPS operates using the battery. Once electrical power is restored or power has switched from a generator set, the battery will be recharged for future use. This is known as the discharge cycle. Each subsequent discharge and recharge reduces the battery's relative capacity by a small percentage.

Maintenance

Maintenance is critical when it comes to ensuring UPS reliability. Regular preventive maintenance can extend battery life by eliminating corrosion and identifying damaged batteries before they can affect the rest of the chain. In addition, proper maintenance allows us to accurately estimate how much longer the battery will last, so replacements can be scheduled with zero production downtime and without losing autonomy.

Batteries are the main component of the UPS but they're also the most vulnerable. Understanding UPS batteries and being aware of the main elements that affect their service life, is key to proper management, which allows us to extend the life of the UPS, and to therefore make sure we have certain uninterrupted power supplies lined up to handle any potential threats.

Jordi Cuesta, IT Channel Sales Manager, Eaton

Eaton's batteries can give uninterrupted power supplies a second life and ensure that business is constantly protected. Eaton recommends replacing batteries after four years of operation to ensure that the UPS remains in good condition.
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Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to improving the quality of life and protecting the environment for people everywhere. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy and helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges.
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