UPS Service
in Toronto

Intro

UPS batteries wear out. Most need replacing every three to six years, some sooner. This is how we replace UPS batteries on APC, Eaton and Vertiv units, from the first test to the old batteries leaving the building.

Why it matters

At a fire hall in southwestern Ontario, the battery string read 206 volts. That’s low. The bank mixed two batches bought a year apart, and the older blocks had lost thirty to fifty percent of their capacity. Here’s how we keep that from happening. Six things make a good battery job. Knowing when they’re due, the right match, and a swap without downtime. Never mixing old and new, a test after, and recycling the old ones.

One. When batteries are due

One: when batteries are due. Standard UPS batteries last three to five years. Long-life ones can go eight to twelve, in a cool room. Heat shortens that. Every eight degrees Celsius above twenty-five cuts battery life roughly in half. At a college on Montreal’s South Shore, three UPS needed new batteries at only three years old, in rooms that ran warm. Age is a guide, not the answer. We decide from a test: every block’s voltage and internal resistance, plus any swelling or acid at the vents.

Two. The right match

Two: the right match. New batteries have to match the old ones: same type, same voltage, same capacity. On an APC Smart-UPS, that means a specific cartridge. A Smart-UPS 1500, for example, takes an RBC7. Larger UPS run strings of twelve-volt blocks. We match the block model and fit the whole string from one batch. The cost comes down to three things: how many blocks, which type, and whether the swap needs a planned window.

Three. A swap without downtime

Three: the swap. Most of the time, your equipment stays on. Many rack and tower UPS take new batteries with the UPS running and the load still connected. On an APC Symmetra PX or LX, the batteries slide out as modules, so we change them with your equipment still powered. Three-phase UPS, like an Eaton 9155 or a Liebert, depend on the design. With several battery strings in parallel, we swap one string at a time, and the UPS stays online. With a single string, we transfer the UPS to its maintenance bypass first, in a window planned with you. At the fire hall, we replaced the whole bank on the same visit, with the customer’s OK.

Four. Never mix old and new

Four: never mix old and new. In a string, batteries of different ages charge unevenly. Some overcharge, some stay undercharged, and the whole string ages early. At a telecom site in the Montreal region, a Symmetra PX ran on batteries of mixed brands and capacities. Several blocks were close to leaking and overheating. We replaced the batteries and kept the UPS. A maintained Symmetra PX can serve for years.

Five. The test after

Five: the test after. We measure every new block, so the next visit has a baseline to compare against. We check the charge, clear the alarms, and read the runtime the UPS now reports. At the fire hall, the UPS showed 478 minutes after the new bank went in. That’s the display’s estimate. If you need the real number, we plan a timed runtime test with you.

Six. The old batteries

Six: the old batteries. We take them back and send them for recycling.

Recap

To recap. Rack and tower UPS take cartridges or trays, usually with the UPS running. Symmetra modules slide out while it runs. Three-phase UPS with parallel strings are done one string at a time, online. A single string goes on the maintenance bypass first. Every string comes from one batch. Every new set is tested, and the old batteries come back with us.

Takeaway and outro

Replacing one battery in an old string rarely fixes it. When a string is due, replace the whole string. GDF Technologies replaces UPS batteries across Canada. We offer support when you need it, and when something fails, we’re there day or night. We also offer extended warranties on parts and labour. And when it’s time for a new UPS, we do the consulting and engineering with you, from configuration to delivery and installation. Call us, or ask for a quote at gdftech.com. You’ll hear back within four business hours.