UPS SYSTEMS
Ongoing maintenance plans should include at least one planned preventive maintenance visit a year.
LEO CRAIG OF RIELLO UPS IRELAND EXPLAINS WHY REGULAR MAINTENANCE IS KEY TO GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR UPS SYSTEMS AND OUTLINES WHAT A SERVICE VISIT SHOULD COVER… The ABCs of a PMV for your UPS
Leo Craig, Riello UPS Ireland Managing Director.
The role of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) is to reduce the risk of damaging IT, equipment and system downtime in the event of a mains electricity issue.
covered by a contract, regular service visits are highly recommended. Think of them as like an annual ‘health check’ for your car or boiler, offering reassurance that everything’s working as it should.
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 tests to see how the UPS runs in various operating modes. Next up is installing firmware updates, as having the latest software has a positive impact on the UPS’ overall performance and efficiency. Finally, the service engineer will complete the maintenance register and produce a detailed service report providing a full rundown of any faults and recommended remedial actions, ie any 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 far more expensive option of replacing the entire UPS. For further information, visit www.riello.ie
“Think of them like an annual ‘health check’ for your car or boiler, offering reassurance that
But a UPS is a complex device in its own right. How well you look after it will have a significant impact on reliability,
COMPETENCE IS KEY Before we cover the ABCs of a PMV, it’s vital you know that the engineer working on your UPS is fully trained. General maintenance or electrical engineers are unlikely to have sufficient product-
performance and eventual lifespan.
New UPS are covered by warranties; indeed, much of the Riello UPS Ireland range comes with a five-year warranty as standard. But a warranty
everything’s working as it should.”
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, factories or hospitals opt for the safety net of an ongoing maintenance plan, spelling out guaranteed emergency response times for engineers to attend site. Such agreements include at least one planned preventive maintenance visit (PMV) a year. Even for a UPS that isn’t
specific knowledge, so always ask for proof the engineer is trained for your manufacturer and model. Remember, sub-contractors can get substituted in at the last minute when the original engineer becomes unavailable! WHAT DOES A PMV COVER? A PMV typically kicks-off with a visual and physical inspection for signs of wear and tear, as well as checking
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