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How Energy Efficient is Your UPS System?
/in Energy Efficiency, UPS, UPS Efficiency/by Mike BergumWhen a company is deciding on ideal back-up power equipment for their space, they consider many factors, such as the capabilities of the system, how much the system can grow and expand, and what equipment the system will be supporting. One of the more important aspects of this decision is also the system’s overall efficiency. If your UPS is inefficient, it can end up costing your company time and money if it is not properly designed and utilized. Let’s review the concept of efficiency for UPS equipment, ways that efficiency is measured, and how the resultant data can then be applied to make improvements and realize savings to your UPS system. Read more
The Match Game: What UPS Model Best Fits Your Application?
/in Critical Power System, UPS, UPS Efficiency, UPS Options/by Mike BergumEverybody wants to find their “match.” This is true in both life and in business: finding the right job, the right partner or the right community is important to us. This is also true in the critical power world. The idea of finding the right UPS “match” for your critical power applications by looking at several main factors is very important for the application to function most efficiently and effectively. Today, we will break down the three important categories to consider when making your UPS selection. Read more
Refurbished Battery Modules: Pairing Safety with Savings
/in Battery Maintenance, Refurbished UPS Equipment, UPS, UPS Batteries, UPS Battery Modules/by Mike BergumModular UPS systems are designed to be flexible, and are often more user-friendly when it comes to replacing UPS batteries. Rather than a cabinet full of large, heavy batteries, many models are designed using battery modules, with multiple batteries that are housed in an enclosure. The module can then be installed by simply sliding the enclosure into the UPS chassis. These are also often designed to be “hot-swappable”, allowing the user to replace battery modules without the need to power off the UPS system. The downside is that purchasing new UPS battery modules can be expensive. One cost effective way to replace batteries is to consider purchasing refurbished, certified UPS battery modules. In this blog, we will cover the advantages of utilizing refurbished UPS battery modules and the steps QPS goes through prior to shipment. Read more
Learn More About UPS Lithium-Ion Battery Technology
/in Announcements, Lithium-Ion, UPS Batteries/by Mike BergumLithium-ion battery technology has been a frequent discussion point in the UPS industry lately, and we at QPS have had many inquiries about the technology from our clients and prospects. Some questions we have been asked include: What is the battery chemistry like? What applications is the technology best suited for? What are the maintenance requirements like? Is it a safe technology?
Join us on March 12th in Brookfield, Wisconsin as we explore the answer to these questions and more. QPS is hosting a seminar on Lithium-Ion battery technology, with speaker AJ Savant from Toshiba to discuss the chemistry, evolution, and applications for this technology in the critical power industry. This will be an in-depth exploration of this technology and should not be missed! We hope to see all of you there! Read more
UPS in Alarm: What Happens Next.
/in Downtime, Service Agreements, UPS, UPS Alarms, UPS System Failure/by Mike BergumWe ran an article on “What Your UPS Alarm is trying to Tell You” to help explain some of the basic alarms you might experience. In this article, we will go into more depth about how your service provider should respond, triage, and resolve your issue, from when you first contact them to completion. We will also discuss the importance of understanding the provisions your provider makes for response time and resources. This gives you an expectation of what happens “behind the scenes,” so you better understand the process involved in supporting your UPS.
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QPS Blog Year in Review: Lessons from Critical Power Discussions
/in Field Service Reports, UPS/by Mike BergumAt Quality Power Solutions, it’s important to us to build a knowledge base with our readers and customers, so we can create a meaningful shared dialogue on educational topics related to the critical power industry. We went through quite a few topics this year, so it’s always interesting to go back over what we shared. Here, then, is our QPS “blog year” in review summarizing our 2018 discussions. Read more
5 Takeaways from Eaton’s 2017 Blackout Tracker Report
/in Downtime, Power Failure, Safety Awareness/by Mike BergumSince 2008, power equipment provider Eaton has collated and released an annual report called the Eaton Blackout Tracker. This report compiles annual power outage causes and associated impacts in the United States. The report’s purpose is to provide greater awareness of the vulnerability of the U.S. power grid, the types of losses outages can cause, and the importance of managing risks associated with outages. The most-recent 2017 Blackout Tracker Report compiles data from more than 3,500 outages across all 50 states. This report is based on reported power outages from various news services, newspaper reports, websites and personal accounts. The 2017 report marks the 10th and final year that Eaton will provide this report. Here are the 5 main takeaways to pay attention to when reviewing this year’s report. Read more
Understanding Field Service Reports Part 4: Thermal Image Scanning
/in Field Service Reports, Preventative Maintenance, UPS, UPS Efficiency, UPS Maintenance/by Mike BergumOur fourth and final entry in our series on understanding field service reports looks at deciphering the results of thermal image scanning. The thermal image scan is important enough that QPS believes that every preventative maintenance check should have one performed. Thermal image scanning is one of the most reliable ways to predict impending UPS component failure, and if components, or the entire UPS, needs to be replaced.
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Understanding Field Service Reports Part 3: Balancing UPS Loads
/in Critical Power System, Field Service Reports, UPS, UPS Maintenance/by Mike BergumOur third entry in our series on field service reports concentrates on understanding balancing UPS loads. Before we dive in, let’s start by defining what it means to balance UPS loads. The definition of balancing UPS loads means to distribute loads evenly across the total output of the UPS.
Balancing UPS loads is normally recommended in order to avoid overuse on any one phase of the UPS equipment. In an example with a 3-phase UPS, the UPS puts out a certain amount of amperage, which can be separated into thirds of the total kVA rating across the three phases. When properly executed, balancing UPS loads avoids overuse and increases the useful life of the UPS by maximizing its output. Read more
Understanding Field Service Reports Part 2: Capacitors and Fans
/in capacitors, Field Service Reports, Preventative Maintenance, Safety Awareness, UPS Capacitor Failure, UPS Capacitors, UPS fans, UPS Maintenance/by Mike BergumIn part 2 of our blog series on field service reports we will cover capacitors, what they do, and what to look for. The capacitor in a UPS is used to store an electric charge, as well as smoothing out and filtering voltage fluctuations. UPS systems vary significantly in design and technology, and as a result, the quantity and size of capacitors changes as well. In addition, because a capacitor replacement typically requires a shutdown of the UPS system for replacement, your UPS service provider likely will recommend and replace the cooling fans in the system at the same time. Both capacitors and fans are critical to keeping the UPS running, and both are just as susceptible to failure as the other components of a UPS. It is critical to understand how each component can be damaged, and what to look for in your field service report (FSR) regarding the health of your capacitors and fans. Read more