No one expects a Managed Ups Services system to last forever, but when critical equipment must continue to operate, the question is, "How long will the UPS last?" The answer lies in understanding the life cycle of a UPS, in particular its key components.

When are you most at risk of UPS failure? In this case, the individual parts of the UPS provide the answer. You need to know the life cycle of key components like batteries, capacitors, and other critical components in order to estimate how long your UPS will last.

UPS life cycle: component by component

Some UPS systems can last up to 13 years or more before they need to be replaced. However, critical components fail long before the UPS itself.

Below is a graph of expected life cycle requirements for most data center and facility UPS systems. Keep in mind that almost every four years, some of the components in your UPS are at risk of failure and may need to be replaced.

The life cycle diagram shows why most UPS manufacturers recommend that a qualified service technician test and inspect your system at least twice a year. (Click on the diagram to see a larger version.)

These tests are important to help you understand trends in your UPS, batteries, and internal components, and to establish the correct replacement readings. For example, battery failure can almost always be predicted by routine testing.

Life cycle cost coverage

It is important to understand these life cycle costs before purchasing a system. The initial capital cost of an installation cannot exceed 30 percent of the total life cycle cost of the system.

Choosing the correct device size for maximum efficiency, understanding future load requirements, and ensuring the system is not impacted by the costs of manufacturer's proprietary software are all ways to get rid of wasted resources.

Additionally, resources may be available in the form of energy grants or loans improving the energy efficiency of your UPS system.

As with any machine, a little knowledge of critical parts and regular maintenance can help extend the life of your UPS, but for any plant manager it's not just about putting off potential replacement costs. It's about keeping your critical systems online.

The question is not how long the UPS system will last, but whether the cost of downtime is greater than the maintenance required to keep critical UPS systems up and running.