An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) aids in providing electricity when traditional electrical systems fail. These devices play an important role in facility management by keeping operations running while the facility switches to its standby generator. A UPS can prevent data and efficiency losses and ensure lifesaving services are available, even when the power is out.
However, if a UPS isn’t cared for properly, it may fail when it’s needed most. In this article, we walk you through common UPS problems and solutions so that your facility can stay functional when it matters most.
What Are the Most Common UPS Problems?
UPS malfunctions can range in severity, and they may be caused or worsened by different environmental conditions or accidents. As a result, making heads or tails of a certain malfunction can be challenging.
Understanding basic UPS issues and solutions can help you diagnose what’s going on. Generally, the problems you and your UPS are most likely to face include:
Battery failure: UPS batteries need to be regularly inspected to assess their overall health. Otherwise, the UPS may fail due to low battery voltage, a blown battery fuse, early discharges, or overheating. Environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and dust can play a role in all three of these issues, as well as the battery’s age and level of usage. If the battery fails outright, it’s time to replace it with a new one. It’s also important to avoid simply replacing ‘one-battery-at-a-time’, as this can have a damaging effect on those new batteries as they share a system with old failing ones.
Overloading and capacity issues: In some cases, your battery may not be large enough to support the UPS load, and its runtime may also be lacking. These insufficiencies can overload and even damage the battery. To avoid this situation, invest in a battery with a more substantial runtime that can meet your facility’s needs.
Faulty or aging capacitors: The average UPS holds around 12 capacitors, each responsible for storing and releasing electricity. Capacitors wear down over time, which can lead to damage or inefficient performance. Check your capacitors annually and replace them every five to seven years and/or at recommended OEM intervals.
Inverter/rectifier failures: The inverter and rectifierare responsible for converting alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) and vice versa. This process allows the UPS to receive and send electricity. If the rectifier fails, the UPS won’t receive the power it needs to operate, and if the inverter fails, the UPS won’t release the power the facility needs. Replace both immediately if they fail.
Worn fans and filters: Over time, mechanical components like fans and filters that facilitate the UPS’s functions will wear down and need to be replaced. Dust buildup, high temperatures, and mechanical failures can cause this issue.
How to Troubleshoot UPS Issues
The UPS troubleshooting process will vary based on the exact malfunction you’re experiencing. That said, there are some general troubleshooting procedures you can follow to help you identify the problem.
Check for alarms, indicator lights, and error codes: Your UPS is equipped with various mechanisms designed to warn you about malfunctions and underperforming or out-of-date components. Step one should always involve checking alarms and indicator lights and reading error codes, as they’ll give you a clearer sense of what’s wrong with the UPS.
Analyze built-in diagnostics and event logs: Many UPSs come with built-in malfunction diagnostics systems and activity logs, which can tell you the exact components or internal sections that have stopped functioning and give you a timeline of events leading up to the malfunction. They often provide more precise, detailed information that maintenance teams can use to address interlocking issues and avoid future malfunctions.
Assess loose connections and physical damage: When a malfunction occurs, visually inspect your UPS and look for loose wiring and damaged or detached components. Repairing the damage and/or tightening these connections can extend your UPS’s lifespan.
How to Resolve UPS Battery Issues
Many UPS performance issues can be traced back to the battery. Temperature, humidity, dust, and other environmental factors can wear down the battery over time, as well as the battery’s normal operation and improper storage methods. Common signs of battery degradation include a reduced overall runtime, frequent alarms or other warnings, and a change in physical characteristics (swelling).
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s time to run a diagnostic test and contact a technician equipped to interpret the diagnostic reading and repair the UPS. Never attempt a DIY fix — this can worsen, damage, or interfere with the UPS’s functionality, and even lead to physical harm.
UPS Maintenance Tips to Prevent Common Problems
Preventive maintenance helps you keep your UPS in good condition. Proper maintenance can reduce the risk of issues later on. Some top UPS maintenance techniques include:
Following a maintenance schedule: Knowing when to perform specific checks, tests, and maintenance can extend your UPS’s lifespan while saving you money on repairs. Put together a maintenance schedule based on the UPS manufacturer’s recommendations and make sure your team follows it closely.
Maintaining the UPS environment: Keep the UPS and the space around it free of storage items such as boxes, as well as dust and grime. Temperature and humidity levels should also be monitored closely and kept within recommended ranges, as determined by the UPS manufacturer.
Performing firmware and software updates: UPS manufacturers often release firmware and software updates that address common problems and improve performance. Keeping your machine up to date is an effective and simple way to protect it from malfunctions and other issues.
Conducting inspections for swelling, corrosion, or leaks: Watch for any changes in your UPS’s appearance. Rust, swelling, and leaking fluid are all signs that something is wrong with your equipment. In many cases, regular maintenance will prevent these issues.
Load testing and capacity verification: One of the best ways to protect your UPS is to assess its capacity and the load that will be placed on it. If you find that the UPS you’ve selected can’t do what it needs to, look into other options.
Repair and Maintain Your UPS With Nationwide Power
A malfunctioning UPS is a serious problem — you rely on it to provide valuable power, and one overlooked issue can have a massive impact on your business. Having a professional UPS partner can make all the difference.
Nationwide Power is here to help. We offer UPS battery repairs and replacements, emergency services, and preventive maintenance to make sure your UPS is in peak condition when you need it most. Our experienced team is ready to address your UPS concerns so you can keep your critical operations running.
Have a question or need more information? Use our convenient online request for quote form or give us a call at 866-261-4108 and we will promptly respond to your needs.
