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Have you ever sustained equipment damage or data loss because a UPS didn't sufficiently protect your systems? What other recommendations would you add to this list?
I would recommend administrators to get assistance from an eletrical engineering firm/contractor to install a suitably sized and rated standby generator that automatically turns on when the main supply goes down. Have a automated protected fuel supply to the generator which can can be monitored for when it goes on/off, run time, fuel consumed. In this way, you may go beyond troubled waters of regular power outages. UPS:Automatic Battery Backup, Generator :Automatic Supply to keep the Backup up. Of course, all this depends on your budget.
A surge protector will not work unless it is plugged into a circuit that is grounded, i.e., the electrical outlet into which it is plugged must be grounded.
A UPS must draw power from a grounded circuit. Especially in older buildings, I have found many outlets that have been "upgraded" to accept three-prong plugs, but either there is no ground wire present, or armored cable is corroded or not properly installed. I have found such outlet plug installations in both commercial and residential units, regardless of whether installing them without a ground violates codes, and I've run ground wires for many circuits that did not have any.
Most UPS units which I've seen in the past few years have test circuitry to determine whether there is a path to ground in the circuit from which they draw power, and they will refuse to operate unless the circuit is grounded.
Installing ground wires can become an expensive "retrofit" and the landlord typically doesn't care. So before you rent or lease, insist that your agreement with the landlord makes them responsibile for the proper wiring and grounding of all electrical circuits. Quite often, landlords are NOT liable (or exempted by law from liability) when wiring in their property is old and dangerous, and/or it is not grounded, but a written addition to the rental agreement or lease will be upheld by the court as a matter of public policy.
A UPS must draw power from a grounded circuit. Especially in older buildings, I have found many outlets that have been "upgraded" to accept three-prong plugs, but either there is no ground wire present, or armored cable is corroded or not properly installed. I have found such outlet plug installations in both commercial and residential units, regardless of whether installing them without a ground violates codes, and I've run ground wires for many circuits that did not have any.
Most UPS units which I've seen in the past few years have test circuitry to determine whether there is a path to ground in the circuit from which they draw power, and they will refuse to operate unless the circuit is grounded.
Installing ground wires can become an expensive "retrofit" and the landlord typically doesn't care. So before you rent or lease, insist that your agreement with the landlord makes them responsibile for the proper wiring and grounding of all electrical circuits. Quite often, landlords are NOT liable (or exempted by law from liability) when wiring in their property is old and dangerous, and/or it is not grounded, but a written addition to the rental agreement or lease will be upheld by the court as a matter of public policy.
Consider also placing a UPS in that does LINE CONDITIONING. This will, for example, take input voltage of between 74 VAC to 149 VAC and clean it up to go out at the 120 VAC that our computers like.
The APC batteries are good, but have a tighter tolerance of what they can accept.
Further, a good, and simple (USD$ 200) solution is to put a simple line conditioner in SERIES with your UPS unit so that the UPS battery receives a clean 120 VAC power.
The grid can suck!
The APC batteries are good, but have a tighter tolerance of what they can accept.
Further, a good, and simple (USD$ 200) solution is to put a simple line conditioner in SERIES with your UPS unit so that the UPS battery receives a clean 120 VAC power.
The grid can suck!
It is a common myth that UPS units protect against all surges. In fact: Transient voltages are known to reach in upwards of a million volts in micro seconds. These particular spikes are typically caused by internal/external switching of loads (heavy equipment) or external electrical grid fluctuations. Hint: Do you have surge suppression in installed? No, I'm not talking about your $40,000 UPS system or some end user protection device. I am referencing the fact that surge suppression is needed at the electrical switchboard level and on your critical electrical panels. Lightning can travel through the ground right into your branch panel. If your building is not properly grounded in a loop, expect this scenario to happen today and get some surge suppression. Contact me at donbowins@southeastelectric.com if you have any questions concerning this issue.
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