Three things that will help extend the life of your UPS battery

Depending on their constitution, a UPS battery(s) can cost a company a pretty penny  and as such – you’ll want to try to extend their life as much as possible. And this obviously goes further than mere financial concerns – you want to know that your business is protected! 

The average battery lasts anywhere from 3 to 5 years if it’s taken care of. However, did you know that if you keep them in ideal conditions they may last even a little longer? What are some things you can do to extend the life of your UPS battery? That’s what we’re here to discuss today. Let’s jump right in! 

Where your battery is placed matters

Where your battery is located in your server room matters. The biggest things you’ll want to consider are placing it in a place with little moisture; making sure it’s not in a place where it can collect a significant amount of dust; and in a place where there’s proper ventilation- so as to manage its temperature more efficiently. Do these three things and you’ve got a place where your battery can operate fully, with good ventilation, and isn’t subject to overheating.

Temperature

We put this one second because we know we drill this one home frequently on this blog; but in case you didn’t know: YES, temperature matters! For every 18 degrees above ambient temperature (77 degrees), the life of the UPS battery is reduced by FIFTY PERCENT. Yeah – so if it’s a little too warm in your server room it can basically destroy half the value of your UPS battery. Make sure the temperature is controlled!

Proper cycling

 Anytime your system goes down, the UPS battery will switch on to keep the system running until things bre back up and running. Once it’s back up, the battery will recharge. This is what we call the discharge cycle. And the more the battery discharges – like is the case with any battery – the more wear and tear it undergoes. 

Unfortunately, sometimes batteries cycle and have a certain over-sensitivity to them. Simple lights flickering can activate them and wear on the battery’s lifespan. While there’s not a lot you can do to prevent this from happening – after all – cycling is a normal activity for a UPS battery – being aware of its frequency can make a significant difference and allow you to prevent these issues in the future. 

And last but not least – make sure there’s simply just some added oversight over your UPS system and the server room. Anytime there’s a plan that is simple, repeatable, consistent and proactive – the less likely you are to encounter issues. 

If you have questions about how you can squeeze more out of your UPS system – give us a call today and we’ll be happy to help. Until then – good luck!