Designed to protect electrical circuits, telecommunications equipment and computer networks from power surges, brownouts or blackouts, uninterruptible power supply batteries, also known as UPS batteries, battery backups or continuous power supplies, equip offices with alternative electrical power in case the building’s original utility power fails. It’s important that providers of UPS batteries, UPS battery back-ups and replacement UPS batteries manufacture devices that are safe, energy efficient and effective to prevent interruptions in your company’s power supply.

Because UPS batteries carry high voltage power, safety for UPS batteries must be addressed. Whether you use new batteries, UPS replacement batteries or buy battery back-ups, these devices must be handled and stored with care to prevent damage that can cause acid spills or fires. Apply safety standards for new and used UPS batteries, whether you use them for home or business computers, data processing centers or entertainment systems.

1. Work with UPS battery suppliers to pick the right equipment and supplies.

2. Follow online guides from UPS battery suppliers that provide safety tips for handling UPS batteries.

3. Look for any training courses that focus on care and safety for UPS batteries.

4. Check certification status to ensure that the UPS batteries meet safety standards.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

UPS battery suppliers can assist in picking the right equipment

UPS battery distributors and suppliers feature inventories of new, used and recycled UPS batteries. Seek assistance in choosing the UPS battery that is safe to use with your office of factory setup.

I recommend: Find UPS batteries of different sizes and specifications at Gruber Power Services. The company also offers installation, engineering and maintenance services to enhance safety for UPS batteries. Tripp Lite features “green” products, solutions and resources that promote energy efficient uses of UPS batteries and UPS replacement batteries.

Look for information on safety for UPS batteries in manuals or in other guides

Product guides, installation manuals and technical data sheets help users understand the safe applications of UPS batteries.

I recommend: Materials and safety data sheet information, start-up and troubleshooting services are available from UPS battery supplier Tech Power Group. American Power Conversion presents manuals, features and UPS battery models information online. The company supplies both new UPS batteries and UPS battery back-ups.

Consider on-site training on the installation and safe uses of UPS batteries

Some providers of UPS batteries offer company training on the installation and care of power equipment to avoid malfunctions that may cause data loss, injury or fires.

I recommend: Industrial Power and Battery provides on-site, professional training to employers and employees who work with UPS batteries and other systems. Engineers, technicians, IT professionals and plant operators can also attend training sessions related to UPS batteries at Ametek Solid State Controls. Topics range from UPS battery basics to troubleshooting.

Verify that UPS batteries and related products comply with safety requirements

To guarantee quality and to avoid mishaps, determine whether providers of UPS batteries are certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or similar associations.

I recommend: ISO-certified Storage Battery Systems distributes single-phase and three-phase UPS battery systems of various brands. UPS battery distributors such as Chloride Power Protection feature ISO-certified UPS batteries and UPS replacement batteries.

Most companies know UPS replacement batteries are a must to protect computer equipment throughout their organization. What they may not know is there are some green solutions to UPS batteries that will use less energy, do less harm to the environment and save money too.

UPS battery distributors carry an ever-enlarging group of environmentally friendly UPS solutions that you might not know exist. When choosing a green UPS battery supplier, here are some questions to think about before your choose their technology:

1. Ask about the reliability of their green products, and how they compare to traditional UPS battery back-ups

2. Determine what green technology (e.g., flywheel versus superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES)) is best for your UPS needs

3. Make sure they recycle old UPS units and batteries

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Buy battery back ups, but know your environment first

Take note of the electronic environment that you need protected when you contact providers of UPS batteries. Ask yourself questions like, How much equipment will be connected to your UPS system? How reliable is your local electricity provider? How long do you need to ensure your operation stays up and running without power? Answering questions like these will help you choose the right UPS battery replacement for your needs.

I recommend: To understand just what you need to take care of all your power worries, see the American Power Conversion (APC) Upgrade Selector page. It will ask you questions about your power supply needs and supply suggestions to meet those needs. There are also different types of UPS systems that maintain and support power differently, so check out Groupe Techna's take on Line Interactive vs. Online UPS systems.

Understand the difference in green UPS battery replacement technologies

There are two major types of energy efficient UPS replacement battery technologies - flywheels and SMES, and each is best for certain large and small business applications.

I recommend: To find out more about these applications, visit the Electricity Storage Association for detailed information on flywheels. For SMES technology, read more at AZoM.com including information on applications in many different industries. Active Power is one of the largest green UPS battery suppliers.

Recycle UPS batteries properly

No batteries should be put out with regular garbage pick-up because they contain dangerous chemicals such as lead. Because of the large size of UPS batteries, they require special handling. Some UPS battery suppliers will recycle them for you. You can also take them to auto repair shops that accept car batteries.

I recommend: Battery Solutions will accept batteries for recycling via ground shipping from anywhere in the US. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation offers a program they call Call2Recycle. They have an online form that lets you search for businesses that will take batteries of many types of chemistries, e.g., lead acid (under 1 kg), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) and Lithium Ion (Li-ion).

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are buying a stand-by, or 'off-line,' UPS, remember the system turns on only when the incoming voltage spikes or sags enough to trip the system, and this process takes some fixed time. Purchase a UPS with the fastest trip time you can afford to avoid losing data in the interim.

UPS (uninterruptible power supply) batteries are used in electrical devices that provide battery backup for computer systems and other sensitive power loads. UPS battery systems are made from a number of units, each with its own battery. This configuration is to ensure that, if one unit fails, another unit or units will pick up the excess load. These batteries are rechargeable and can hold this charge for long periods. This extra power is used when there is a failure in the main power supply.

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Battery conditioning, battery exercising

Battery conditioning is the process of purposely discharging a battery down to a minimum voltage and then recharging it. This is used to reduce the memory effect when batteries are not fully discharged before recharging.

I recommend: American Battery provides information on battery conditioning for many types of UPS batteries.

Backup time

The backup time is the time when a UPS battery supplies the power load when the main power is down. This time ranges from five minutes to several hours depending on the efficiency of the UPS battery.

I recommend: Backup How To provides information on UPS battery backup time and how to calculate the time for specific battery types.

Circuit breaker

A circuit breaker is a product connected to a UPS that helps to protect the battery when circuits over load.

I recommend: Power Battery provides specifications for circuit breaker systems used for DC volt UPS batteries.

Inverter

An offline or standby inverter is a product used in some UPS configurations to back up the main power source. This configuration reduces costs, but can only be used for low power output.

I recommend: UPS Inverter provides the technical specifications for a UPS inverter used in UPS power configurations.

Protection Index (IP)

The Protection Index is a measure of the UPS' capacity to resist environmental conditions of an electrical device. The IP is comprised of two or three digits that detail the type of risk. Higher numbers equal a greater capacity to resist environmental factors.

I recommend: EZ Screen provides charts that explain the level of environmental resistance and corresponding IP numbers.

Voltage

The voltage of a battery is the measurement of the ability for the battery to maintain a charge level. Voltage is determined by the type and size of the battery.

I recommend: Electric Circuits and Networks provides information on UPS battery management and how voltage can affect reliability of the battery.

UPS batteries, also known as uninterruptible power supply batteries, can keep your business running in the event of a sudden power loss or power disruption. UPS battery back-ups will provide uninterrupted electricity to critical equipment until an auxiliary power supply can be secured. They are most often used in situations where a sudden power disruption could cause injuries, deaths, major data loss or a serious disruption to a business.

Before you buy battery back-ups and begin to contact UPS battery suppliers, UPS battery distributors or other providers of UPS batteries, it is a good idea to have some general knowledge of UPS batteries pricing and costs. Begin by determining if you need:

1. 6-volt UPS batteries for new systems;

2. 12-volt UPS batteries for new systems;

3. Or multiple UPS batteries.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Compare prices for 6-volt UPS batteries

Manufacturers such as BB Battery, PowerSonic, Genesis and Odyssey supply 6-volt UPS batteries. They range in price from about $10 to about $100. Most come with a one-year warranty. If you order your UPS batteries online, then don't forget to factor tax and shipping into the total cost.

I recommend: Advanced Battery Systems and Power Factor have a wide variety of 6-volt UPS batteries on display, making them good places to compare prices.

Compare prices for 12-volt UPS batteries

If you need 12-volt UPS batteries, then you'll find they are generally more expensive than 6-volt UPS batteries. The 12-volt products range in price from about $50 to about $450, depending on the specifications. Similar to 6-volt UPS batteries, 12-volt UPS batteries typically come with a one-year warranty.

I recommend: Check out Unity Electronics and S.E.P. Technologies. Both companies have the prices listed for a good selection of 12-volt UPS batteries.

Buy discounted UPS replacement batteries from a wholesaler or in bulk

If you want to save some money when buying UPS batteries, then consider buying your batteries from a wholesaler or in bulk. Prices from wholesalers range from $20 to $400, depending on the specs of the battery. If you need a large number of UPS batteries, then don't be afraid to call the retailer and try to negotiate a lower bulk rate.

I recommend: BatteryWholesale.com is a good place to research discounted prices on hundreds of types of UPS batteries. WholesaleBatteries.us is also a good resource. The more batteries that you buy from this company, the more money you will save.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you aren't sure what type of UPS batteries you need, then don't worry. Most UPS battery suppliers make it fairly easy to match the correct battery to your system.
• •  It is a good idea to order extra UPS batteries and store some UPS battery replacements at your business, especially if you have multiple UPS backup systems in place. You don't want to have your system offline for a day or two while you wait for a UPS battery replacement to be shipped.