Do long duration runtime battery sets require monitoring systems?

Uninterruptible power supplies include automatic battery testing which is completed every 24hours but this only tests the viability of the complete battery set. Each battery set is made up of battery strings and battery blocks. The individual battery blocks should be tested once a year during a preventative maintenance visit by an engineer qualified to work with DC voltages. The testing can be made with a suitable handheld battery tester using inductance and/or impedance testing. A fixed individual battery monitoring system is a more expensive solution but would provide 24/7 monitoring for each individual battery block and battery string. Battery testing at the block level helps to identify batteries that may be ageing more rapidly than others within the string and so assist with planning replacement before any detriment to the overall battery capacity.