generator, open, yellow

It’s Spring Cleaning Time: Tips to Spruce up Your Generator

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For 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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A close up of a person pulling out a UPS module.

Modular UPS: The Building Blocks of a Critical Power System

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For 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. Read more

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Three Things To Know About UPS Scalability

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Scalability 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. Read more

Lessons Learned from the CES 2018 Power Outage

Lessons Learned From The CES 2018 Power Outage

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Darkness 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. Read more

Spring facility assessment

Spring Is Here…Time For A Comprehensive Facility Assessment

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For most organizations, spring means new fiscal budgets and capital projects on the calendar.  The beginning of a new year is always a great time to take a step back and look at the overall big picture of your emergency power infrastructure.  Understanding where your critical power equipment stands in its lifecycle can prevent downtime and headache from catastrophes that may have been easily avoidable.  For many organizations, a facility assessment is crucial when you are evaluating your critical power infrastructure.  Through an assessment, you can be armed with enough information to determine upcoming goals and requirements for your facility and specific company needs.  A comprehensive facility assessment will allow you to review challenges that your building, location, or infrastructure may have.  In this article we will discuss some of the items you may be investigating during your review of the critical power infrastructure in your facility.

 

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Facilities Power Solutions

Location, Location, Location – How to Maximize the Life of Your UPS With the Right Environment

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Your UPS and other critical power equipment can be one of the most crucial investments that a company can make. The equipment keeps your business running when unexpected factors have the ability to negatively impact your business, employees, and your bottom line. This is why it is imperative to ensure it is adequately protected from Mother Nature and other elements that can cause unanticipated wear and tear leading to expensive repairs or even outright replacement.

It is important to discuss your needs with a true consultative partner prior to choosing the best UPS unit for you. Different UPS systems operate better in specific environments; from computer rooms, to industrial applications, and even outdoors. Specific code requirements may come into play as well, so it is important to vet out all the details prior to deciding on the right UPS system for your particular needs. No matter what your application is, there is a customized solution that Quality Power Solutions can provide.

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critical power systems tax deductions

Tax Season and Your Critical Power Systems – Deductions You Can Use

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With tax season in full swing, it is a good time to explore tax deductions that may help your bottom line. At QPS, we find that many of our clients don’t realize that there are deductions or tax benefits regarding your critical power equipment available.

As with any tax related topic, please consult with your tax professional to see if some of the ideas below make sense for your organization.

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Power Outages Caused by Squirrels

Hundreds of Power Outages in the US Are Caused by…Squirrels?

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When you think of power outages in this country, you generally think of weather related incidents and natural disasters – things like floods, fire, ice storms, heat waves and tornadoes.

It’s true, many power outages can be attributed to these events. However, believe it or not, many of the power outages that occur in the US are not the result of bad weather, but instead the result of squirrels and other small animals.

Yes, squirrels! And incidents seem to be on the rise. In fact, the number of incidents has significantly risen since we last touched on the squirrel issue in 2014. This squirrel problem is noteworthy enough that there is even a tongue-in-cheek website devoted to tracking power outages, or “cyber squirrel attacks” across the world: http://cybersquirrel1.com/  Even the Eaton Blackout Tracker lists animal related outages as causing 5% of all outages country-wide.

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Certified Facility Manager Certification

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The Certified Facility Manager® (CFM) credential is the most respected credential in facility management. The International Facility Management Association’s (IFMA) certification process sets the industry standard for ensuring the knowledge and capability of practicing facility managers. Facility teams are often responsible for maintaining the mission critical power infrastructure in a facility. Quality Power Solutions supports many IT and Facility professionals in keeping their infrastructure in top shape. The CFM credential is a great way to help facility managers develop the skills necessary to stay ahead of infrastructure and facility demands.

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Internet Of Things (IoT) And Critical Power

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The Internet of Things (IoT) is the confluence of everyday objects and the internet in which these devices have network connectivity and can send and receive data. Of all the various business units, facility management has the potential to be transformed more than any other by the rise of the Internet of Things. It is such a complex field involving numerous systems (both technological and human-powered) working in concert to control a wide range of variables that adding elements of automation and inter-connectivity can have a dramatic effect on the efficiency and performance of critical facility infrastructure. As the IoT continues to proliferate, there will be even more solutions coming to the market for facility managers who are looking to streamline operations and control costs, especially around their critical infrastructure.

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