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Why your UPS’ Operation Needs to Be Consistent With Its Immediate Environment

Top quality UPS’ are resilient workhorses built to provide years of service with regular maintenance. However, it is important to ensure that the capacity of the unit you choose is suitable for the application it is going to be used for. In addition, there are some other aspects to keep in view while choosing a UPS system.

When used in controlled temperature environments in the range of 0°C to 40°C, standard on-line UPS units should be easily able to meet these requirements. However, today there is an increasing need to utilise on-line UPS technology in extreme temperature environments. Read on to learn why your UPS’ operation needs to be consistent with its immediate environment.

Temperature Rating Inspections

Many remote outdoor locations may require sensitive heavy duty equipment and on-line Uninterruptible Power Supply to be installed inside structures that do not have any climate control systems or protective enclosures. Even if these systems have some form of protection from the natural elements, trying to use an off-the-shelf unit in any extreme temperature environment wouldn’t be the right decision.

Generally, manufacturers will submit UPS’ that are certified for a temperature range of over 0°C to 40°C to the relevant safety agency. The agency would conduct an engineering evaluation of the system in which they will take the temperature profile of the heat sinks and highest heat-generating parts. The safety agency reviews all the internal components such as the circuit board, and plastic parts used within the unit as well.

They conduct these inspections to ensure that all the components are within the temperature limits and ratings. Most UPS manufacturers design on-line systems for environments that are in the 0°C to 40°C temperature range. But if these UPS Systems are installed in buildings without any kind of temperature control, that could impact the unit’s reliability and lifespan. In some cases, it can result in an outright failure.

Problems That Can Surface

In order to meet the demands of higher temperature settings, you need UPS systems that are specifically designed to meet that requirement. Some common problems that can arise in systems that aren’t rated for extreme temperatures include:

• Batteries become the first concern; the lifespan of a standard UPS battery can be drastically shortened if the system is operated in environments with a temperature above 40°C. The batteries also need to have operational temperature ratings that either meet/exceed both the high and low, temperature limits. If the temperature is below 0°C, that can present certain problems too. In the case of VRLA batteries, their electro/chemical design can limit their ability to deliver sufficient levels of current to power the UPS in temperatures below -20°C. As a consequence, if the battery is operated at 0⁰C, its runtime can drop by up to 50% of its typical value.
• Below -40°C temperature, the electrolyte within the electrolytic capacitors utilised in the UPS unit can significantly reduce the capacitors’ capacitance, causing a rupture in the system’s over-pressure safety vents. Eventually, this can cause the internal electrolytic capacitors to dry, resulting in a failure of the UPS system.
• The UPS could have high power components such as chokes & transformers that can become overheated and cause a system failure. Aside from this, they also pose the risk of an internal fire in the UPS.
• When used in higher temperatures, the plastics used in the battery/UPS construction can develop cracks or become deformed.

As you can see, there are a number of reasons why it’s important to ensure that the UPS’ operation is consistent with its immediate environment. If you want to know anything more about any of our products and services, don’t hesitate to contact us at KaRaTec Power Supply Pty. You can give us a call at 612 9808 1127. You can also fill in this contact us form and we will respond within the shortest possible time to help you with the guidance and information you need.

Thanks for reading,
Karatec Power Supply Pty
612 9808 1127