In most cases, faulty capacitors will not initially shut down your UPS, but will immediately affect its functionality. You may not be able to see it either, as capacitors operating in a “disconnected” condition rather than a “short circuited” condition may not show any signs of electrolyte overflow.
Ultimately, the functionality of the online UPS will be affected, its filtering capabilities will be affected, and “when the capacitors in the powertrain malfunction, a typical three-phase UPS will switch to bypass form.” This leaves your critical equipment unprotected.
Due to the difficulty in detecting faults in capacitors, the most effective way to eliminate threats is to stop the capacitor before it malfunctions. Some simple processes can keep you in a safe state.
1. Arrange regular protection
The daily protection of UPS includes cleaning filters, testing fans, and removing dust and debris from the entire equipment, which will help your UPS operate at lower temperatures and extend the lifespan of the hood.
2. Pay attention to the shelf life of capacitors
Usually, a more comprehensive inspection of capacitors should be conducted within approximately six years. This can include visual inspection and thermal scanning to understand and track potential issues. Regarding certain systems, this may include putting your UPS system in a bypass state, or even closing the UPS to obtain the right to use capacitors.
3. Actively replace capacitors
The white paper on this topic cites a wealth of resources on the lifecycle of AC and DC capacitors. It is important to know what the lifecycle protection of your UPS system should include. Comment with your UPS manufacturer on your specific system and when you need to view or replace capacitors.
Capacitors may cause frustration and confusion for facility managers. There are various types of problems and ways they affect UPS, which may cause a certain degree of uncertainty. That’s why preventive protection is the only way to ensure it.