Now that we have a better idea of our UPS battery options from our previous article, we can take a look at these options individually in more depth. We will start with the most popular option currently, the VRLA UPS battery.
VRLA, or Valve Regulated Lead Acid UPS batteries, are also sometimes called “maintenance free” batteries. This term is a misnomer, as VRLA batteries still require cleaning and regular functional testing. The term “maintenance free” comes from the fact that you are not able to add fluid to the battery. The term “valve regulated “means these batteries limit the inflow and outflow of gas to the cell.
In a standard UPS configuration, VRLA batteries are typically set up in internal or external strings that can range from 1 to 40 batteries, depending on the application they are being used for. You may also see either single or multiple strings running in parallel to each other.
VRLA batteries are the most popular UPS battery type currently. Why the popularity? There are four easy reasons: Continue reading “Getting to Know Your UPS Batteries: VRLA” »
DC Power Plants: Efficient Power for Industry
/3 Comments/in DC Power Plants, Installation, Safety Awareness /by Karyn SchairerFor most of power infrastructure and transmission, the globe runs on alternating current (AC) power, but there are specific applications where Direct Current (DC) power is more efficient to use. We will explore DC power plants in more detail, why it is better for certain applications, and the industries where it is most commonly used. Continue reading “DC Power Plants: Efficient Power for Industry” »
It’s Spring Cleaning Time: Tips to Spruce up Your Generator
/0 Comments/in Critical Power System, Generator Maintenance, Preventative Maintenance, Safety Awareness /by Karyn SchairerFor many of us, the arrival of spring means spring cleaning. When dealing with critical power equipment, spring maintenance is especially important to make sure your generator systems are in top working order, and is a great time to see how your unit fared over the winter. Any time of the year has potential for utility outages and the 2017 Eaton Blackout Tracker has shown that power outages in the US are on the rise. In fact, last year there were over 3,526 noted outages with an average outage duration of 81 minutes. To keep your facility online and running smoothly, here are a few tips to keep your emergency power in great shape.
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How to Install a UPS System Properly – Three Must-Do Steps
/0 Comments/in Installation, UPS /by Rob KamperschroerOrganizations rely more heavily on reliable power systems than ever before. Selecting and installing a UPS system is a project that can be costly, but also carries significant risks if improperly installed. In order to avoid those risks, we have provided the three must-do steps to installing a UPS system properly. Continue reading “How to Install a UPS System Properly – Three Must-Do Steps” »
Modular UPS: The Building Blocks of a Critical Power System
/0 Comments/in Critical Power System, Energy Efficiency, UPS, UPS Efficiency /by Karyn SchairerFor years, data centers have used multiple high capacity UPS systems to obtain “N+1” redundancy and ensure high availability of power for their critical systems. More recently, the trend has been to use smaller modular systems that can scale with load demand. In fact, modular UPS systems are one of the fastest growing product in the 3 phase UPS industry, expecting to reach an estimated $2.5B in sales by 2020.
Using a modular UPS design can also allow for different types of scalability that you may not get from a more conventional UPS. We will explore how this set-up typically works, advantages and key considerations for a modular UPS, and show examples of some of the more common modular UPS systems in the market today. Continue reading “Modular UPS: The Building Blocks of a Critical Power System” »
Three Things To Know About UPS Scalability
/4 Comments/in Critical Power System, Energy Efficiency, UPS, UPS Efficiency /by Karyn SchairerScalability is a word that often gets highlighted in conversations about growth and expansion. But what does scalability actually mean when talking about UPS systems? As organizations grow, merge or gain efficiencies, UPS scalability becomes a critical discussion point. There are several ways scalability can apply to a UPS. It can apply to scalability within a single unit or multiple systems. For this discussion, we will examine both why scaling your UPS system may become necessary for certain businesses, and the three main ways to scale a UPS. Continue reading “Three Things To Know About UPS Scalability” »
UPS Battery Monitoring Basics
/0 Comments/in UPS, UPS Batteries, UPS Battery Monitoring, UPS Maintenance, UPS System Failure /by Karyn SchairerAs much as 65% of all UPS back-up system power failures are battery related. That’s a staggering number, but is easier to understand when you consider all the potential issues that can affect UPS batteries. Power anomalies, overheating, improper charging or low electrolyte levels for certain types of batteries can all cause serious issues for the UPS.
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Lessons Learned From The CES 2018 Power Outage
/0 Comments/in Critical Power System, Downtime /by Mike BergumDarkness took center stage at the Las Vegas Convention Center for a little over 2 hours during day two of the Consumer Electronics Show this year. Continue reading “Lessons Learned From The CES 2018 Power Outage” »
Getting to Know Your UPS Batteries II- Wet Cell Batteries
/3 Comments/in Battery Maintenance, Installation, Preventative Maintenance, Safety Awareness, UPS, UPS Batteries, UPS Efficiency, UPS Maintenance, UPS Monitoring /by Karyn SchairerThe second battery on our “get to know you” list is the Wet Cell, or Flooded Cell battery. UPS Systems are used in a variety of applications and, as a result, may require a wide variety of run time requirements or discharge characteristics. The battery cell is comprised of a hard plastic enclosure, typically Polycarbonate or Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN) Plastic, lead plates and an electrolyte that allows the flow of current.
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QPS Welcomes Mark Wellnitz!
/0 Comments/in Bios /by Karyn SchairerQPS welcomes Mark Wellnitz as our new Director of Business Development! Mark joined our team in December 2017. Mark comes to us with a 25-year background working in sales, marketing and operations for companies such as Land’s End, Spectrum Communications and Wind River Financial.
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Getting to Know Your UPS Batteries: VRLA
/6 Comments/in UPS, UPS Batteries, UPS Maintenance, UPS Service Provider /by Karyn SchairerNow that we have a better idea of our UPS battery options from our previous article, we can take a look at these options individually in more depth. We will start with the most popular option currently, the VRLA UPS battery.
VRLA, or Valve Regulated Lead Acid UPS batteries, are also sometimes called “maintenance free” batteries. This term is a misnomer, as VRLA batteries still require cleaning and regular functional testing. The term “maintenance free” comes from the fact that you are not able to add fluid to the battery. The term “valve regulated “means these batteries limit the inflow and outflow of gas to the cell.
In a standard UPS configuration, VRLA batteries are typically set up in internal or external strings that can range from 1 to 40 batteries, depending on the application they are being used for. You may also see either single or multiple strings running in parallel to each other.
VRLA batteries are the most popular UPS battery type currently. Why the popularity? There are four easy reasons: Continue reading “Getting to Know Your UPS Batteries: VRLA” »