UPS Failure. Recommendations Going Forward?

[Gongalong]

Hi folks,

 

Our main server UPS failed this morning, which was fun (it won’t switch on, so it remains to be seen if it’s completely terminal. An HP R/T3000).

 

What was plugged into the UPS is now into mains power pending a replacement – not ideal, but not much choice.

 

The UPS itself is coming up on 7 years and due for replacement in the Summer. We were told by the supplier that 7 years would be fine (our previous UPSs were used for 7 years), and no alerts were showing on the UPS prior to this. We have had some electrical work done here, including downtime of power, but we were careful to shut down servers and the UPS so it wasn’t drained flat.

 

Just wanted to pick brains as to whether we could have done anything else to predict this? Was leaving it 7 years too long?

 

Thanks

[3s-gtech]

Not really too long. I've had some APC units last many years (I have a 12+ year old APC SmartUPS 3000 still working beautifully, touch wood) and one died inside 5. If they have to cope with lots of brown-outs, drop-outs etc I imagine it'll wear them faster.

[Koldov]

We also have 2 x APC 1000 SMART UPS on our servers and switches, both are now over 11 years old (as I've been here that long and they were here when I started).

 

I've had to replace a couple of batteries, but these are big chunky stand alone units not rack based.

[Chris_Cook]

If its a battery failure, then their should be an option to automatically test every other week.

 

If the whole unit has failed, then its difficult to predict. I'd say 7 years for an item like that isn't an un-reasonable expectation. I think we've had 10 years out of them before, but after 8 years I try and replace the whole unit when the battery next needs replacing.

 

I think APC recommend 5 year life for UPSs.

 

The other option for servers with dual PSUs is to have 2 UPSs, then if one fails, or needs swapping out you can minimise downtime.

[supportman]

We went Lithium ion a few years ago, seems to not run out like the old lead acid batteries.

 

This is the one we have:

 

APC Smart-UPS Lithium Ion, Short Depth 1500VA, 230V with SmartConnect - APC United Kingdom

[slugshead]

I've got about 40 APC srt2200's

 

All coming up to three years old

 

Had one battery pack failure and one short out inside (wires from mainboard to the battery pack) and catch fire, but in all fairness that one was in a very hot oil burning boiler room

[Foresthippy]

Hi folks,

 

Our main server UPS failed this morning, which was fun (it won’t switch on, so it remains to be seen if it’s completely terminal. An HP R/T3000).

 

What was plugged into the UPS is now into mains power pending a replacement – not ideal, but not much choice.

 

The UPS itself is coming up on 7 years and due for replacement in the Summer. We were told by the supplier that 7 years would be fine (our previous UPSs were used for 7 years), and no alerts were showing on the UPS prior to this. We have had some electrical work done here, including downtime of power, but we were careful to shut down servers and the UPS so it wasn’t drained flat.

 

Just wanted to pick brains as to whether we could have done anything else to predict this? Was leaving it 7 years too long?

 

Thanks

 

Must be the 7 year switch...

[pete]

Assuming you're swapping out battery packs when necessary, it's sized appropriately for the load and it's setup to auto-test and email you when there's a problem, 7 years isn't necessarily too long.

[CrootUK]

Running multiple HR R5000s with ERMs and also APC SRT 5000 with ERMs both solid units!