A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is a device that provides emergency electrical power when the main power source fails, experiences micro-interruptions, voltage surges or frequency variations. UPS systems protect critical equipment, servers, medical devices, industrial controls, from power disturbances that could cause data loss, equipment damage or operational downtime.

An online double conversion (VFI) UPS permanently powers the load from its internal inverter, zero transfer time, maximum protection against all power disturbances. A line-interactive UPS uses the main power directly with voltage correction (AVR) and only switches to battery in the event of a failure. Double conversion is recommended for critical equipment: servers, medical imaging, industrial controls.

UPS sizing requires: (1) calculating the total load in VA or kVA (sum of connected equipment consumption), (2) the power factor (typically 0.8 to 0.9), (3) required runtime in minutes, and (4) a growth margin. GDF Technologies performs this load calculation at no charge, email support@gdftech.com.

GDF Technologies distributes and services APC by Schneider, Eaton Powerware, Vertiv Liebert, Xtreme Power Conversion (XPC), Delta Electronics, Toshiba, Mitsubishi Electric and Tripp Lite. Brand selection depends on your power requirements, sector (medical, mining, IT) and redundancy needs. Our engineers provide unbiased guidance.

An online double conversion UPS provides complete protection against voltage surges, including many indirect lightning events, since the load is always powered from the internal inverter and never directly from the main supply. For direct lightning strikes, a dedicated surge protector upstream of the UPS is recommended.

For VRLA/AGM batteries (the most common), typical service life is 3 to 5 years under optimal conditions (stable temperature around 20 to 25°C, minimal discharge cycles). Lithium-Ion batteries typically last 8 to 10 years. Heat is the primary enemy of UPS batteries: every 10°C increase halves service life.

Common signs include: an active battery alarm on the UPS, noticeably reduced runtime, physical swelling of the battery enclosure, an electrolyte smell, or a UPS self-test indicating a failed battery. A capacity test performed by GDF Technologies confirms the actual condition and avoids false positives.

GDF Technologies strongly recommends OEM (original) batteries or certified equivalents. Non-certified batteries can reduce runtime, damage UPS charging circuits, void the manufacturer warranty and create safety hazards (overheating, leakage, fire).

A UL94-V0 battery has a certified non-flammable enclosure per UL94 standard, V0 classification (the strictest: combustion stops within 10 seconds). These batteries are mandatory in many regulated environments: hospitals, mines, government buildings. GDF Technologies supplies and installs them across Canada.

UPS batteries (VRLA and Lithium-Ion) are classified as hazardous materials and must not be disposed of in landfill. GDF Technologies offers a certified collection and recycling program with proof of treatment. Contact us at support@gdftech.com to schedule a pickup.

GDF Technologies recommends a minimum annual preventive maintenance visit for UPS in non-critical environments, and semi-annual for critical environments (data centers, hospitals, mines). VRLA batteries benefit from semi-annual testing. Regular maintenance prevents the majority of unplanned failures.

Our preventive maintenance visits include: complete visual inspection, electrical testing (voltage, current, frequency), real runtime test, battery measurements (voltage, impedance, infrared thermography), filter and fan cleaning, firmware verification, transfer test and a full condition report with recommendations.

In most cases, yes. UPS systems are designed to allow online maintenance (via a maintenance bypass or N+1 redundancy). GDF Technologies plans interventions to minimize any risk of interruption and informs your team of the procedure in advance.

A standard single-phase UPS installation typically takes 2 to 4 hours. An industrial three-phase UPS with electrical integration and SNMP configuration may require a full day. Commissioning includes load testing, alarm configuration and runtime validation.

Yes. GDF Technologies coordinates the complete installation including electrical connection, network integration (SNMP), alarm threshold configuration and acceptance testing. We work in compliance with the Canadian Electrical Code and applicable sector-specific standards.

Note the alarm displayed (code or message), verify that a maintenance bypass is available if needed, and contact GDF Technologies immediately at support@gdftech.com. Specify the UPS model, alarm code and your province. Do not unplug the UPS without a technician’s instruction.

Yes. GDF Technologies provides 24/7 emergency support for critical failures. Contact us at support@gdftech.com specifying “Emergency” in the subject line for priority handling.

GDF Technologies operates across Canada: Quebec (our primary market, based in Delson on Montreal’s South Shore), Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Maritime provinces. For remote regions, contact us at support@gdftech.com to assess logistics.

Yes. GDF Technologies offers annual and semi-annual preventive maintenance contracts tailored to your UPS fleet. These contracts include planned visits, condition reports and preferential rates on corrective interventions and batteries. Request a quote at support@gdftech.com.

Our technical team answers all questions related to UPS, batteries, PDUs, cabinets and cooling for critical environments. Write to us at support@gdftech.com, response guaranteed within 1 business day.