What is Thermal Runaway?
One of the largest hazards related to UPS systems, Emergency Lighting Inverters and DC Applications is thermal runaway. What is it, and how can you prevent the potential loss of millions?
Security Vulnerabilities in APC Smart-UPS and SmartConnect Devices
Schneider Electric recently published a security vulnerability in several APC Smart-UPS uninterruptable power supply devices which, if compromised, may allow for potential unauthorized access and control of the device, including remote shutdown. See more detail below.
When A Flywheel UPS Makes Sense
By now we have examined flywheel UPS machines from several different angles: their history, how they work, and how to properly maintain them. We also need to examine the most obvious question: What considerations go into making sure a flywheel UPS actually makes sense for your business? Today we will examine some things to consider when looking to purchase a UPS system. Read more
Emergency Lighting Inverters: Life Safety
UL924 Emergency Lighting Central Inverter/ UPS Systems are different than other mission critical power systems in that their application is designed for life safety in emergency situations. Emergency lighting inverters are regulated by various life safety codes that address what needs to happen regarding egress lighting in the event of a power failure. Some of these codes specifically include:
Emergency Lighting Inverters: The Basics
In the critical power equipment industry we get a lot of questions regarding emergency lighting. This article is the first in a three part series discussing what a lighting inverter is, how to maintain it, and what standards exist that facilities need to adhere to. Before we can discuss emergency lighting inverter maintenance and standards, it’s important to understand the different types of lighting inverters, what they do and why they are important. Read more
Hundreds of Power Outages in the US Are Caused by…Squirrels?
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.
Components of a Successful IT Data Center
The rapidly changing environment of information technology requires flexibility, scalability and efficiency. When planning your data center, it’s essential to evaluate your future demand as well as your current needs. Critical risk assessment necessitates an understanding of potential failures and implementation of preventative actions. To operate efficiently, your data center must incorporate strategic resources to ensure sufficient computing capacity and security. The following are components of a successful IT data center.