UPS SYSTEMS
REGULAR MAINTENANCE IS KEY TO GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR UPS SYSTEMS, SAYS LEO CRAIG OF RIELLO UPS IRELAND, OUTLINING WHAT A SERVICE VISIT SHOULD COVER… Time to give your UPS a bit of TLC?
Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) are the unsung heroes across various electrical installations, reducing the risk of damaging IT, equipment and system downtime in the event of a mains supply issue. But a UPS is a complex device in its own right, whether it’s a small plug and play unit protecting a home gaming setup or a multi megawatt system backing up a server room. How well you look after it will have a significant impact on reliability, performance, and eventual lifespan. New UPS are covered by warranties; indeed, much of the Riello UPS Ireland
Such agreements include at least one planned preventive maintenance visit (PMV) a year. Even for a UPS that isn’t covered by a contract, regular service visits are highly recommended. Think of them like an annual ‘health check’ for your car or boiler, offering reassurance that everything’s working as it should. Competence is key Before we tackle the ins and outs of a PMV, a reminder that it’s important to establish the engineer working on your unit is fully trained and competent. A general maintenance or electrical engineer is unlikely to have sufficient product- specific knowledge. Always ask for proof your
wear and tear, as well as checking batteries for swelling, corrosion, or leakage. The engineer will also check, and if necessary, tighten all electrical connections such as the capacitors, fans, PCBs and breakers. Engineers then proceed to mechanical and functional tests, where they’ll download historical alarm and performance logs, before carrying out several functional tests to see how the UPS runs in various operating modes. Next up is installing firmware updates, as having the latest software makes a big impact on the overall performance and efficiency of the UPS. Finally, the service engineer will complete the maintenance register and a detailed service report providing a full rundown of any faults and recommended remedial actions, ie identifying components that are due for replacement. Adopting a proactive approach to maintenance helps extend the lifespan of your UPS and lowers your total cost of ownership. It also means you’re far less likely to experience downtime or be forced into the expensive option of replacing an entire UPS. T: +353 (0)1 6917 601 www.riello-ups.ie
Leo Craig, Managing Director of Riello UPS Ireland.
“Always ask for proof your
engineer is trained for
your specific manufacturer and model.”
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 an issue. That’s why mission-critical sites such as data centres or hospitals opt for the safety net of an ongoing maintenance plan spelling out guaranteed Emergency Response Times for engineers to attend sites.
engineer is trained for your specific manufacturer and model. It’s not unusual for sub-contractors to be substituted in at the last minute if the original engineer is unavailable. What does a PMV cover? A PMV typically kicks off with a visual and physical inspection for signs of
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