From the
Desk of
Bud Worwetz
? Are You UPSet ?
When is it better to invest in a major
rebuild in an old battery backup power system than to buy a new unit?
While I can not discern the efficacy
of your decision without intmacy with your corporate funding plan and
its sources, I can highlight some concerns you may want to evaluate before
you order that new Powerware 9390 or whatever make and model seems right.
First, understand that a major rebuild
often referred to as a major Preventative Maintenance (PM) involves not
only changing batteries, it involves other new parts: AC & DC capacitors,
fans, and even some inductor coils. The process can be relatively expensive
and should be performed by professional power men, not your IT staff.
It will require bypass operation and sometimes a complete shutdown window.
So why waste your money on that old box?
This is usually what follows:
1. Is the new UPS model transformerless? Did you
know that newer model UPS often do not bear an isolation transformer?
Transformerless systems are fine for linear loads such as in data centers,
but try to run an MRI.
2. What is the cost of shipping? UPS systems are
heavy (even the transformerless types). At best, a small 1500 lbs, 40
KVA system costs over $900 to ship from Florida to Colorado. Now add batteries,
and add another $900.
3. Once the new UPS has arrived (hopefully in tact)
and the pallet was offloaded without tipping onto the ground, you must
get that unit off the pallet and into its little room. You know the room
- 110 ft down the carpeted hallway, buried behind stacks of boxes and
where did that wall come from? I thought the doorway was wider, and how
do we get it over that 6" bump? Riggers usually cost no less than
$1000 per day.
4. After maintenance removes the doorjams, your
new unit is staged very close to the old system, which, you notice is
still chugging along. In fact, the new unit is really in the exit/work
path of the old unit. Push it back into the hallway.
5. Schedule a shut down period or place unit in
external bypass. Oh, I hope that existing bypass will work with the new
unit. Why didn't we buy a bypass cabinet with the new unit?
5. Hire an electrician to shut down and pull the
old unit. Another $1000. Get that rigger to load out the old unit - did
they leave already? Oh they can't be back 'til next week.
>>more>>
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6. Extend bypass window.
I hope it does not storm. We should have bought a generator, too.
7. Return fom vacation.
8. The new unit is connected to the main feed and
bypass, but the factory can not do Startup until next week. ... I hope
it does not storm... Can we rent a generator? Too late, your IT manager
is complaining he had to reboot 44 servers this morning.
9. Mr. OEM Jumpsuit Man arrives on site the following
week and prepares to install the unit. He discovers that AAA Electric
reversed the phases, so he must reschedule Startup until you have that
corrected.
10. Meanwhile Alice from Accounting wants you to
price the value of the old unit with at least 3 quotes. In what budget
shall the cost of shipping or storing that unit come? The shipping department
complains that the old unit is blocking deliveries and want that thing
moved. Gary, the resident fishing expert, wants you to give him a couple
batteries from the old unit for his trolling motor. He says he will remove
the batts himself.
11. Next week AAA Electric returns, but they don't
have a phase rotation meter so they make a second trip (Hint: Swap any
2 phases). Here's your bill.
12. Gary got burned while removing "them deep
cycle batteries." He won't sue, but he needs time off because he
is also a little blind from the flash, too.
13. Mr. OEM Jumpsuit Man returns the following
day. He starts up the unit with no problem.
14. The new unit runs fine for weeks.
15. You handle 50 messages from EBAYers and Craigslisters
offering to buy the old unit. Finally, one guy actually shows up with
a small stack of cash. As he loads the system onto the truck he asks,
"If it was working, why didn't you just get it serviced?"
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Jacksonville 904-396-0145
or Toll Free 904-396-0145