September is National Preparedness Month and AMETEK Solidstate Controls wants to make sure that you have a plan in place if disaster strikes. Part of this plan should include knowing the best ways to prepare your Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems for an emergency shutdown and potential facility evacuation.
We’ve compiled a list of steps to help you prevent issues with your UPS system during worst-case scenario situations.
- Determine whether you will need the load circuits in your UPS to remain powered during an emergency.
- If the UPS is required during a storm, leave it in normal operation
- If the UPS is not required during a storm, put it into bypass mode and disconnect the battery. Leaving the battery connected can cause it to be over discharged even while the UPS is bypassed. If this happens, we recommend replacing the discharged batteries.
- Be aware of where your UPS systems are located. Flooding can occur during natural disasters, so it’s advisable to move any systems that are in low spots or flood prone areas to higher ground if possible.
- If your systems are damaged due to flooding, we recommend contacting our experienced Field Service Engineering team. Our team has experience in restoring systems by performing extensive cleaning and replacing damaged parts. Please note that we can only attempt to restore a unit that was not connected to a power source during the time of flooding.
- Scheduling lifetime preventive maintenance guarantees that your systems will be checked annually, ensuring your equipment is functioning to its full capabilities and will be ready to perform in an emergency.
- Stocking up on critical spare parts and components can help decrease downtime when disaster strikes. Our team is more than happy to assess your spare parts inventory and make recommendations on what spares should be kept on hand.
- We have a dedicated support team that operates 24/7 because we understand that emergencies can happen at any time. Our team works with you to provide solutions to help get your system back up and running as quickly as possible. If you’re ever in an emergency situation, please call us at 1-800-222-9079. If you need emergency repairs, we will dispatch a technician to your site to inspect and repair your system as quickly as possible.
Having an action plan and assessing your site before disaster strikes can save you time, money and the loss of your equipment. If you’d like to discuss your preparedness plan with one of our expert UPS technicians, please contact us!