Protect Your UPS Batteries
Hot enough for you? It’s summer and that means the little red end of the thermometer just keeps going up and up. And while all this hot weather may have you thinking about shorts, ice cream, and vacation, it also means you need to think about your UPS batteries.
There are several factors that can impact the overall life and performance of UPS batteries: discharges, load, maintenance, and ambient temperature. If your batteries aren’t kept in the right climate, you may shorten their usefulness or even lose them when you need them most.
With summer and hot weather, it is important to know that you’re keeping your UPS batteries in an ideal climate.
The Ideal Climate for UPS Batteries
The rated capacity of a VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid) battery is based upon an ambient temperature of 77°F. If a battery is operating at higher temperatures, say 92°F, its overall life could be decreased by as much as 50 percent.
You might think this higher temperature issue isn’t a problem for UPS batteries located within a computer room or data center environment. And you’re right, it’s not… until the air conditioning shuts down.
If your UPS batteries are located in an environment that is not temperature controlled, such as an electrical room, hot weather means those batteries spend time in temperatures that can cause them to have a decreased lifetime or might even cause them to fail when you need them most.
Don’t Forget the Warranty
Also, keep in mind that operating UPS batteries regularly at elevated temperatures can void the battery warranty. Most battery manufacturers require service report documentation to verify temperature conditions for warranty coverage purposes.
In order to keep your warranty active, make sure the climate where your batteries are stored matches the manufacturer requirements.
Have a Worry-Free Summer
So, if you want to keep your summer carefree, make sure your UPS batteries are located in an environment with an ambient temperature of 77°F and that the air conditioning system that maintains the climate in that room is working properly!