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As the life of your uninterruptible power supply advances, you may want to evaluate your system for potential UPS parts replacements or a full UPS replacement.
Achieving optimum performance and reliability from your UPS requires regular and specialized inspection and preventative maintenance. Mitsubishi Electric can provide these services throughout your system’s lifecycle. This also includes proactive replacements for UPS components like batteries and other lifecycle parts, such as capacitors and fans during the system's operating life.
As your system ages and reaches around 75% of its expected service life (typically around the 10–12-year mark) it becomes increasingly important to start planning to either replace UPS lifecycle parts or do a full UPS replacement.
Updating your system with timely lifecycle parts replacements will promote optimum performance and reliability for an extended operating life.
This may also encompass integrating technologies into your existing UPS system that enhance the system’s overall performance - like upgraded batteries or a battery monitoring system.
In some instances, it may make more sense to opt for a total UPS system replacement.
Regardless of your situation, Mitsubishi Electric can advise on the best approach for your specific system and help you determine a path forward whether you choose to replace specific UPS parts or replace your UPS system entirely. A range of factors come into play and are unique to each business’s individual operations and goals.
While every business has its own unique factors to consider, there are basic ones that need to be evaluated to make the best decision. The age of the UPS as well as your current operational needs are fundamental in deciding between a UPS update in lifecycle parts or a complete UPS replacement. Read below to learn more about what you should be aware of as you navigate this process.
If your facility is expected to continue to operate another 5-10 years or more, it may make more sense to opt for a UPS replacement. Alternatively, if you only expect your facility to operate for less than 5 more years, it may make more sense to continue to replace specific UPS parts or potentially integrate additional technologies into your UPS.
UPS systems typically have a design life of around 15 years. Assuming the system is well maintained and operating within its specification envelope, you should expect reliable performance up to this point. If you decide to update the UPS system with new parts, you should think about how many additional years of service life you expect.
One factor to consider is that going beyond an additional 5 years could push into another cycle of battery and fan replacements, so it is important to consider if it is worth the cost of attempting to extend the service life of your system by replacing UPS parts. If your system is close to or at end of life, it is typically more sensible to fully replace your UPS.
If your system is in a later phase of its support lifecycle and support is limited, then you may want to consider planning to replace the UPS system instead of investing in parts replacements and updates. Alternatively, if the system is earlier in the lifecycle, then continuing to do maintenance on it would be a reasonable move. Reference your UPS system’s support availability when evaluating potential changes.
If your system is heavily loaded (in the 80% range or more) and you do not expect this load factor to decrease, then it may be necessary to replace your UPS to upgrade your system’s efficiency. Alternatively, if the system load factor is much lower and you do not anticipate reaching or exceeding 80%, then a system update may suffice.
Another important consideration is system efficiency. Many UPS systems today can operate more efficiently compared to older generation systems. If improving efficiency is an important factor for your organization, you may want to consider upgrading your system with a complete UPS replacement rather than continuing to invest in life cycle updates.
Likewise, if you are considering different redundancy configurations to increase overall system reliability, you may want to take the same approach. Conversely, some technologies can be integrated into your existing UPS system, such as an upgraded battery solution.
Making changes to your critical infrastructure is a complex process. A successful onsite UPS replacement - be it partial or complete - requires thorough evaluation, careful planning, experience, and responsiveness.
Our portfolio of project planning and onsite services ensure the shutdown, upgrade, replacement, and restart of critical power systems are performed reliably, safely, and efficiently. As a leader in critical power solutions, we are equipped to help you make an informed decision and deliver the professional services to implement your desired changes.