UPS SYSTEMS
IAN JACKSON OF RIELLO UPS IRELAND HIGHLIGHTS WHY REGULAR MAINTENANCE IS KEY TO GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR UPS SYSTEMS AS WELL AS EXPLAINING WHAT A SERVICE VISIT SHOULD COVER... Ian Jackson, Managing Director, Riello UPS Ireland. Remember to give your UPS a bit of TLC
Whatever the industry or sector, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) offer vital protection against electrical outages and downtime. From data centres to financial institutions or pharmaceuticals and MedTech to manufacturing, a UPS provides an invaluable safety net against disruption. But those UPS systems are complex machines too. Wear and tear are inevitable over time. How well you maintain a UPS has a direct impact on reliability, efficiency and its overall lifespan. A new unit is likely covered by warranty. Indeed, much of the Riello UPS Ireland range comes with a five-year warranty as standard. But a warranty only offers a ‘best endeavour’ response, it’s not a guarantee of a speedy solution if there’s a fault. For extra peace of mind, most mission critical sites opt for the additional insurance of an ongoing maintenance plan setting out guaranteed emergency response times for engineers to attend the site. Contracts also set out whether parts and labour are included and will contain provision for at least one preventive maintenance visit (PMV) a year. Think of a PMV in the same way as you would an annual service on your car or
boiler. Such a ‘health check’ gives you reassurance that everything’s working as it should – that’s why we advise a regular PMV even if your UPS isn’t covered by a maintenance contract. COMPETENCE IS CRUCIAL Before we look at what a PMV should cover, it’s essential that the engineer who’ll work on your UPS is fully trained
connections including fans, PCBs, capacitors and circuit breakers. Next up are mechanical and functional tests to see how the UPS runs in various operating modes. This also involves the engineer downloading the unit’s historical performance and alarm logs. Engineers will also install any firmware updates – having the latest software makes sure the UPS performs at its optimum and most efficient. To finish, the engineer will complete all necessary documentation, for example, the
and competent. General maintenance or electrical engineers are unlikely to have enough product- specific knowledge. That’s why you should always ask for proof your
“You should always ask for proof your engineer is trained for your UPS manufacturer and model.”
maintenance register and a detailed service report recommending any remedial actions, such as whether there are any components or consumables that are due for replacement.
engineer is trained for your UPS manufacturer and model. Don’t forget it’s not uncommon for subcontractors to substitute in at the last minute if the original engineer is suddenly unavailable. A-Z OF A PMV Service visits typically start with visual and physical inspections for signs of wear and tear. Engineers will also check batteries for any swelling, corrosion or leakages, before going on to examine and, if necessary, tighten electrical
By adopting such a proactive approach to maintenance, you’ll likely expand the lifespan of your UPS, which lowers your total cost of ownership. You’ll also be far less likely to face system downtime and won’t be forced into the far more expensive option of replacing an entire UPS. www.riello-ups.ie
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