UPS systems are vital yet complex devices in need of regular maintenance and care. Often, this comes in the form of regular servicing – something that’s typically an on-site endeavor. An engineer arrives to physically test the UPS device and check it’s performing optimally. A few months later, they will return. This is a valid and necessary approach. Every UPS device should be serviced manually, and there’s nothing like having an expert in the room. However, thanks to remote monitoring services – such as the remote monitoring facilitated by the ABB Ability™ SmartTracker service – you can get more detailed analysis around the clock. This is ideal as there is often several months between servicing visits, and ample time for things to do go wrong. It’s a bit like maintaining a car. After all, every car owner should service their car yearly. But it’s also wise to check tire pressure, fluid levels, and warning lights on a more frequent basis too, as doing so can prevent more significant problems down the line. A remote monitoring service acts similarly. With 24/7 remote monitoring and advanced analytics, UPS owners can spot early warning signs and predict potential issues, allowing for proactive maintenance rather than reactive repairs.
Data center woes
As an example, let’s imagine you run a data center relying on a UPS to ensure non-stop uptime. One week, in between your regular planned servicing, your UPS device gradually starts to increase in temperature. The temperature is still within the specification limits, so no alarm is sounded. But SmartTracker notices the gradual change. It automatically notifies the ABB remote monitoring team, who investigates the issue and identifies an anomaly with the cooling system. As issues of this nature can’t be left till the next planned service, the monitoring team alerts your team directly to fix the issue. Without continuous remote monitoring, this anomaly could have gone unnoticed and led to a future failure or even a fire hazard. With remote monitoring, the anomaly is repaired swiftly and efficiently.
Which maintenance strategy wins?
On-site servicing isn’t always enough to ensure the performance of your UPS device. While hands-on maintenance by engineers is irreplaceable, this approach leaves gaps between servicing intervals, creating windows for potential issues to arise unnoticed. This is where continuous remote monitoring comes in. The ABB Ability™ SmartTracker service is like having an ABB expert in front of your UPS, 24/7.With it, you gain real-time insights, predictive diagnostics, and proactive alert systems around the clock – not to mention peace of mind. The service detects early warning signs that might escape traditional periodic checks, and transforms maintenance from a reactive strategy into a proactive strategy – ensuring peace of mind and uptime like never before.
Climate change
Climate change is causing volatile weather in countless regions around the world. In some areas, there are much more frequent extreme weather events. In other areas, there are extreme weather events for the first time. Volatile weather conditions, such as storms, can lead to power outages that strain the power grid, increasing the need for UPS devices primed and ready to handle sudden loads. However, in unpredictable weather, UPS devices go through a number of discharge and recharge cycles, something that can accelerate battery wear. This highlights the importance of regular maintenance and continuous monitoring to ensure devices remain in optimal condition, ready to deliver reliable support whenever the unexpected strikes.