WAKE UP CALL: things are changing dramatically for power continuity!
Uninterruptable power supply (UPS) discussions have evoked a "less than excited" reaction from me in the past. I was invited to a conference call last week where I learned how much development has occurred in the power backup business. It was quite interesting and provided me with some points I hadn't considered in the past . . . points you may not have considered either.
Robert Bridenbaugh, from Orion Power Systems, provided interesting answers to a few questions I had as a followup to the conversation.
Q: Battery maintenance can be a hassle, or worse, go unattended. Can a modern UPS system email the owner when the battery is due to be replaced?
A: The Orion Online RT/RTX can store important dates and remind the system owner or manager about the predetermined battery replacement date. It can also send a reminder when the warranty is due to expire. The normal means of managing the maintenance and replacement of these devices is based on a spreadsheet . . . or not at all. This can result in unprotected, vulnerable equipment. There are also SNMP capabilities if the entity is managing the health of devices on the IT network. A small SNMP webcard can be installed. Technical details about the WebCard here.
Here is the technical guide for the SNMP software.
View it here.
Here are a few screenshots from the RT/RTX devices' onboard software management system:
Q: Why would someone want to know that they are buying a true "online" UPS versus a "line interactive" UPS?
A: True "online" means no transfer time when the power goes out and +/- 3% voltage regulation. With true online from Orion Power, you get online power quality at a line-interactive price point. More about UPS basics here.
Q: What improvements in UPS serviceability have been made recently?
A: This applies to the Orion 6kVA and 10kVA size UPS units. The big features regarding this topic are transformerless design, built in bypass switch, and modular design which all allow for easy maintenance. The main benefits of transformerless design are lighter weight, compact size, and better power consumption efficiency. Modular design allows customer fast and easy repair or maintenance. If you have a non-modular ups you typically have to pay a service technician $100 to $200 per hour with a four hour minimum. Repair time may take much longer if the technician needs to order circuit cards or other replacement parts.
Q: What protection is available for thunderstorm season?
A: The time is always right to think about proper protection of equipment, however, surges can come from many sources throughout the year. Utility faults, a short in building wiring, copy machines, or heavy machinery in a factory can cause power surges. Orion Power's PSP line of panel mount surge protectors is a cost effective way to provide surge protection to an entire building or section of a building.
Q: If I want to learn more about power protection, is there a single resource where I can learn the basics?
A: Yes, Orion Power produced an easy-read downloadable document. It covers all of the basics about power backup systems. You can get a free copy here.
Q: Where can I obtain pricing or purchase true online UPS systems?
A: Hite Company in Pennsylvania and Accu-tech in Maryland are both authorized distributors for Orion Power Systems.
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