Help, My UPS is Beeping!
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April 2021
Hi Reader,
Welcome Spring! But with Spring come thunderstorms and power outages. Do you know what steps to take when your UPS System alarms? This month we will examine procedures to help you navigate UPS system alarms.
As always, your feedback is welcome and encouraged.
Thanks again for reading.
Rob
Catch up on past newsletter here.
What to do when your UPS System is in Alarm
We all hope our Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) never breaks, but with all systems, failures are inevitable.
After reading this month's newsletter, my goal is you have a plan that will reduce the stress when your UPS system alarms.
All UPS Systems provide information that inform us of it’s operational state. This could be as simple as lights on the front display, or an advanced LCD touch screen. When there is an alarm, the system should give audible and visual indications. Some systems will have a red light for fault, and others will provide details of what happened.
Some alarms are typical during particular states of operation and are not faults. “Input Power fail” and “On Battery” are two such alarms. It’s important to understand what alarms are normal and which are faults. This way you recognize if there is a problem.
Once you have determined your UPS system is in a fault condition, what do you do?
The first thing to know is its operation status. Is it still online supporting the critical load? Is it in bypass, or is it off, no output power?
If the system is off and you want power back, it needs to be placed in maintenance bypass. Be aware this is unconditioned power, and if there is a utility outage, the load will lose power.
I recommend you practice this procedure when preventive maintenance is performed. This will give you experience and confidence when an emergency arises.
I also advise having written procedures with your system. This can reduce stress during an emergency. These instructions should include the phone number of your service provider, the model, and a serial number of your UPS system, as well as simple to understand directions on operating your specific system.
If circuit breakers need to be operated, it’s important they are clearly identified. Depending on your experience, pictures can be helpful.
Also, anyone who may need to respond to a UPS system emergency should be familiar with these instructions and the operation of the system.
I’ve included a simple sample here that can be modified to meet your needs.
Your service provider could also help provide procedures and operation instructions, or contact me directly.
You can learn more about UPS System Operational Modes and Alarms Conditions in my book, "UPS Handbook, A Layman's Guide to Uninterruptible Power Supply Systems."
Coming Next Month
Next month we will tackle UPS operational modes and how they relate to alarms.
Enjoy the warmer weather.
Rob's Writing
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