FAQs - Battery Installations
Battery installation questions including uninterruptible power supplies, energy storage systems, emergency lighting and generator starter batteries.
Most uninterruptible power supplies include automatic battery testing which typically takes place every 24hours and is a very short-term test of the entire battery set connected. Whilst this gives a good indication as to the state of the batteries we also recommend individual battery block testing during a preventative maintenance visit using a conductance measuring handheld battery tester. Results can be recorded over each visit and compared to identify weak battery blocks. Over several visits handheld UPS battery testing provides a very accurate picture as to the state of the batteries and their health.
Most small single phase UPS with a standard 5 year design life valve regulated lead acid (VRLA battery will require a battery replacement around years 3-4 of operation. This assumes that the batteries are operated within an 20-25˚C ambient temperature range. Long runtimes and larger single single and three phase UPS systems using 10 year design life VRLA batteries will require replacement around years 7-8 of operation.
As part of our battery replacement service we remove replaced batteries from site and send to them to a suitable recycling centre for strip down and material recovery. In a lead acid battery the case, which is generally plastic can be recovered for re-use as can the lead plates and hydrochloric acid electrolyte. There is a growing demand for the eco-friendly recycling of lithium-ion batteries and for these we use a specialist recycling service as the main recycling plant is in Europe.