The Common Causes of UPS Battery Failure

UPS battery failure can occur from manufacturing defects or issues caused by incorrect installation and usage. Awareness of some of the causes of battery failure can help to prevent damage and troubleshoot problems if they occur.

Here are some of the common causes of UPS battery failure:

Physical Damage – Damage can occur if a a battery is stored, transported or installed without care or against manufacturer guidelines. The manufacturers packaging should be used for transportation and care should be taken during the installation.

Sulphation – When a battery is left in a discharged state for a period of time, a chemical reaction occurs. This reaction is called sulphation and will permanently cause damage to the battery performance. The typical visible signs of sulphation are a white coating on the positive terminal and an unoxidised metal glaze on the negative terminal.

Over Cycling – UPS batteries are designed for standby use over a short period of time. The batteries can only withstand a limited number of cycles. When a battery is cycled, there is a reduction in battery performance.

Overcharging – The charging properties of the batteries should be set as inline with manufacturers recommendations during installation or replacement. If the charging voltage or current applied from the UPS is too high, the batteries overheat and electrolyte will start to evaporate.

Undercharging – Undercharging occurs when the UPS is not capable of applying the correct charge voltage or current to restore the batteries to a full state of charge. This will slowly cause sulphation and the battery performance will degrade. This typically happens where the battery set requires more charge current than the UPS can physically deliver or when it has been configured incorrectly.

Using high quality batteries that are stored, transported, and installed correctly will ensure that you will have a more reliable source of standby power. Our team specialises in installation and maintenance using only genuine parts from our manufacturers.

Contact us to find out more about why your business needs a UPS system, and the range of UPS systems available.