UPS Batteries - a HOT topic

[BillP]

As the summer months approach, and things in and around the Data Center heat up, make sure to keep an eye on all of your UPS batteries. Here are a few tips to keep in mind so that you dont fall prey to a hot or swollen battery in your UPS.

1. Ensure that the environment around the UPS stays cool and is within the operating temperature specs for your UPS. A hot environment is bad for any battery system and will likely lessen the life of your batteries in the long run.

2. Older batteries (4+ yrs) will have more of a risk of swelling due to overcharging/low capacity, be sure to replace batteries that need replacing. The typical life of APC batteries is 3-5 yrs and is usually dependent on the amount of discharges that occur.

3. Respond quickly to a battery fault. Most UPSs can be monitored remotely, as well as send notifications for faults that occur. Do yourself a favor and dont ignore these messages. A "hot battery" or "bad battery" in the system can quickly turn into a swollen battery if you dont take action quickly. The UPS reports these faults so that actions can be taken to get the UPS back online, dont ignore them.

4. If a battery appears swollen or hot, pull it as far out of the system as possible and give the APC support line a call. They can help get the UPS back into a working state and stop the batteries from being overcharged. Also, try to cool the area around the UPS and get a fan on the hot batteries. They will likely shrink back to the normal size and be able to be removed after a few hours.

5. Always keep the UPS in a well ventilated area. Whether it is rackmounted or floor standing, avoid stacking anything on top or on the sides of the UPS. Most UPSs have fans that keep the internals cool, make sure they are operational and are not blocked.

Hopefully these tips can help everyone stay cool this summer. 🙂

[BillP · Accepted solution]

As the summer months approach, and things in and around the Data Center heat up, make sure to keep an eye on all of your UPS batteries. Here are a few tips to keep in mind so that you dont fall prey to a hot or swollen battery in your UPS.

1. Ensure that the environment around the UPS stays cool and is within the operating temperature specs for your UPS. A hot environment is bad for any battery system and will likely lessen the life of your batteries in the long run.

2. Older batteries (4+ yrs) will have more of a risk of swelling due to overcharging/low capacity, be sure to replace batteries that need replacing. The typical life of APC batteries is 3-5 yrs and is usually dependent on the amount of discharges that occur.

3. Respond quickly to a battery fault. Most UPSs can be monitored remotely, as well as send notifications for faults that occur. Do yourself a favor and dont ignore these messages. A "hot battery" or "bad battery" in the system can quickly turn into a swollen battery if you dont take action quickly. The UPS reports these faults so that actions can be taken to get the UPS back online, dont ignore them.

4. If a battery appears swollen or hot, pull it as far out of the system as possible and give the APC support line a call. They can help get the UPS back into a working state and stop the batteries from being overcharged. Also, try to cool the area around the UPS and get a fan on the hot batteries. They will likely shrink back to the normal size and be able to be removed after a few hours.

5. Always keep the UPS in a well ventilated area. Whether it is rackmounted or floor standing, avoid stacking anything on top or on the sides of the UPS. Most UPSs have fans that keep the internals cool, make sure they are operational and are not blocked.

Hopefully these tips can help everyone stay cool this summer. 🙂