Common UPS System Issues, Symptoms and Solutions

In this modern world, UPS systems play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of businesses. UPS system is important in protecting electronic equipment from power fluctuations. Choosing a random UPS system and installing it to safeguard your electronic equipment won’t promise optimal functionality. If you want the working of your UPS system to be smooth and efficient, you need to choose the UPS system accordingly.

Though the UPS system has a major role in protecting electronic equipment, these systems are not resistant to certain issues that may compromise their reliability. Some of the common UPS system issues and solutions are as follows:

Battery Failure

Battery failure is a common issue that may happen due to many reasons such as system ageing, lacking maintenance, and high operating temperatures. In the case of battery failure, many symptoms like lowered backup runtime, alarms showing battery faults, inconsistent battery charge levels, etc. If you are noticing these symptoms, it can be due to battery failure. Following are a few things to do if your UPS system indicates battery failure.

• A routine battery testing regimen can be implemented. To assess the battery's health, you can utilise diagnostic tools.
• If you notice the battery is damaged, consider replacing it with quality replacements.
• You can also consider implementing a battery monitoring system to keep track of the real-time status and predictive maintenance.

Overloading

Even UPS systems have a capacity, and when more load is placed on them than their capacity, a system failure may occur. In the cases of overloading, it can overheat as well as cause system failure. Beeping alarms and high UPS temperatures can be the symptoms of the UPS system. In order to avoid these situations, follow these:

• You can implement load-shedding strategies. This will help you prioritize critical equipment during power outages.
• By conducting a comprehensive load assessment, you can ensure that the UPS capacity matches the power requirements of the interconnected devices.
• To prevent overloading risks, it is better to distribute the load across multiple UPS units or boost it to a higher-capacity UPS system.

Overheating

Long operation under heavy load conditions, increased ambient temperatures, or insufficient ventilation can cause overheating. There can be thermal shutdown, extreme heat emission from the UPS unit, low performance and physical injury to internal components. So how will you protect your UPS system from overheating? Consider these things.

• Ensure there is good space around the equipment. Avoid keeping it too close to the walls or any other objects.
• The easiest and one of the most important things you can do to avoid overheating is to improve the UPS installation environment.
• Implement thermal management solutions like fans or cooling systems to regulate temperature and avoid overheating. To prevent thermal damage, you need to monitor UPS temperature levels using built-in sensors or external monitoring devices

Input Power Issues

Input power abnormalities can affect UPS efficiency and connected equipment integrity negatively. An input power problem can be detected by the fluctuating output voltage, increased battery discharge frequency, or unexpected UPS reboot.

• For safeguarding against voltage fluctuations and electrical noise, you can install transient voltage surge suppressors (TVSS) and isolation transformers.
• You can deploy power conditioning devices like line interactive or online UPS systems for stabilizing and filtering incoming power.
• You will be able to identify and correct potential input power issues carefully by performing regular power quality audits.

Software & Firmware Issues

You cannot expect the UPS system to be efficient if the UPS firmware and software are outdated. It will definitely affect power management functions. An error message during system initialization, an unresponsive UPS interface, or inconsistent power event logging, can all be a sign of software and firmware issues.

• Perform system diagnostics and validation tests post-update to confirm proper functionality and communication with connected devices.
• Ensure to maintain up-to-date UPS firmware and software by checking for updates. Make sure to check the manufacturer’s official website regularly to stay informed.
• You need to follow strict update protocols to deliver data integrity and system compatibility during firmware upgrades.

If you understand these technical intricacies and try to implement troubleshooting measures, it will not only help in improving the efficiency of the UPS system but also ensure its longevity.

As a top UPS system supplier with branches across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Qatar, and Oman, Al-Kiyumi can provide you with the best UPS systems and after-sales services. We have experts who can help you find the right UPS system that will meet your power needs. For more information, please get in touch Al-Kiyumi.