1.Why does UPS power require major repairs
No device can guarantee reliable operation without regular maintenance. UPS is a very important part of data center infrastructure and requires high reliability to ensure uninterrupted power supply to backend loads. As the device’s usage cycle extends, there may be many factors that can affect its normal operation. For example:
●There are hidden dangers in the early installation, such as loose crimping of cable terminals and loose internal signal terminals.
●Affected by the operating environment, especially if the installation process in the early stage of the project is not standardized, it is easy for conductive dust to enter and remain inside the equipment.
●Factors such as parameter deviation and aging of electronic devices.
●Long term lack of loading and functional verification testing makes it difficult to fully grasp the system status.
●Some components such as large capacitors and fans have an expected lifespan, which is generally lower than the service life of the entire UPS system.
In the industrial field, it has become a tradition and system to perform deep maintenance on equipment during regular “maintenance window periods”. In the field of data centers, UPS’s annual inspections and major repairs are gradually being accepted by more and more customers.
2. UPS power overhaul content
UPS overhaul should include in-depth testing at the annual inspection level and preventive overall replacement of components with expected lifespan.
(1) It is recommended that UPS power supplies undergo regular deep testing when powered off, including comprehensive testing of internal connections and areas that are not visible when powered on, as well as parameter calibration and confirmation. By conducting annual inspections on UPS equipment, improving the operating environment, identifying and eliminating potential hazards of UPS power supply equipment, enhancing equipment reliability, and ensuring the safety of power supply in the computer room. Of course, the most ideal thing is to be able to perform fake load testing and various functional verification tests during the detection process, so as to have a more comprehensive understanding of the system’s operating status.
(2) Some components such as capacitors and fans have a lifespan expectation, usually around 5-6 years, which is much lower than the service life cycle of the entire UPS system. Preventive overall replacement should be carried out in advance during the lifespan of the device to avoid the risk of sudden failure of individual components and improve system reliability. By timely replacing some aging components of UPS power equipment, losses caused by sudden failures of UPS equipment can be avoided, and the working performance of UPS equipment can be restored, extending the service life of UPS equipment. And planned overall replacement can greatly reduce the number of unplanned repairs caused by individual failures in the later stage, thereby reducing the potential risks brought by these unplanned repairs.
3.The difference between UPS power overhaul and maintenance services
The usual equipment maintenance services include two categories of service content: one is to provide technical support and post failure repair, replacement of faulty parts services, so that the maintenance budget is controllable; Another is proactive regular inspection services, which detect potential equipment hazards in advance through professional inspections. Maintenance services can also include other optional value-added services, such as “basic maintenance documents”, “maintenance analysis reports”, “on-site operation guidance”, “disaster emergency”, and so on.
However, the maintenance service interface does not include the overall early replacement of components with expected lifespan, and customers cannot wait until every failure occurs to deal with components that have reached the end of their lifespan. Furthermore, there are differences in depth and effectiveness between online detection or partial power-off detection of equipment and thorough detection of complete power-off of the system. So major repairs are actually a good supplement to maintenance services, and of course, the cycle of major repairs is much longer than that of maintenance. The concept of equipment overhaul and maintenance has been widely and deeply implemented in the service field.