How to Get Your Power Systems Ready for Hurricanes

Hurricane season is here, bringing high winds and heavy rainfall that put your data center at risk. Not only can this inclement weather damage your physical facility, but it can also cause power outages that lead to costly downtime and data loss. Luckily, there are several steps you can take to prepare for severe weather like hurricanes and ensure your operations can continue to run as smoothly as possible. This all starts with maintaining your uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems and getting them ready for the coming storm season. Continue reading to learn how to prepare your UPS and power distribution systems for future hurricanes so your facility stays protected.

Regularly Test Your Uninterruptible Power Supply

An uninterruptible power supply system provides electricity to your facility when the main power source has been interrupted or fails. This is vital during hurricane season when severe storms cause sudden power outages. And if you want to ensure your UPS system will be able to work when a hurricane hits, you need to take proper care of it. UPS preventative maintenance services start with inspecting the unit for any corrosion or loose battery connections every month, especially if the device hasn’t been used in a while.

Once everything appears to be in order, it’s time to test your uninterruptible power supply’s battery. Since most backup generators take 5-30 seconds to start and stabilize, you need make sure your UPS’ battery is healthy so it can keep power on while generators warm up. The last thing you want is to experience a power outage and face costly downtime because your UPS’ battery is dead. If you have a VRLA battery it will likely need to be replaced every three to five years, so be sure to keep track of how old your backup power source is so you can stay on top of maintenance.

Optimize Your Power Distribution

While having a reliable uninterruptible power supply helps keep your facility running during power outages, it isn’t the only piece of equipment needed to maintain operations. Power distribution units (PDUs) help guide the backup power supply across all your devices to prevent any overloads. This is incredibly important during hurricanes because if you experience a power surge that knocks out your systems, there’s nothing you can do until the weather clears up. Intelligent PDUs not only evenly distribute power to your necessary equipment, but they also offer real-time monitoring capabilities. With this feature, you can keep an eye on how much backup power you are using and on what, even if you aren’t able to make it to your facility.

Enhance System Resilience with Powerbar Solutions

Uninterruptible power supply systems and PDUs are a must for any data center, but with these pieces of equipment comes countless wires that need to be organized and contained. This is where Powerbar systems come into play. These solutions can be mounted overhead and use an enclosed, insulated structure to protect your systems’ wires from water exposure or debris. Additionally, Powerbar systems are designed to handle high power loads while minimizing energy loss, making them an ideal solution for data centers that need to maximize efficiency while preparing for hurricane season.

Integrate UPS Systems with Generators

While an uninterruptible power supply system is needed to keep power on temporarily, your facility needs a stronger solution for the long term. This is especially important during hurricane season where these storms can cause power outages that last hours or days before technicians can even start work to get the main power grid back on. Backup generators are the solution since they can provide power longer than UPS systems. However, these generators can take a few seconds or even minutes to start, which can be costly for data centers. This is why you need an uninterruptible power supply system in place to keep your facility running during this transition period to the backup generator. Once the generator is online, the UPS continues to regulate power and prevent power surges.

Just like how you need to perform regular maintenance on your uninterruptible power supply system, you need to do the same with your backup generator. Start by checking the generator’s fuel levels every week to ensure you always have enough backup energy to get you through a power outage. Ideally your fuel tanks should be topped off for at least 72-120 hours of runtime. At the same time, check for any fluid leaks and ensure the circuit breaker is closed and working properly. Make sure to also check your oil at this time and perform oil changes every 100-200 hours of operation or at least once a year. Do this even if your generator hasn’t been run much as stagnant oil can degrade and lose its effectiveness. This will ensure your backup generator is in peak condition and can work well with your UPS system during inclement weather.

Create a Hurricane Season Power Management Plan

Performing regular maintenance before hurricane season hits is only one step to preparing your uninterruptible power supply systems for severe storms. You also need to have a plan in place on how to take care of all your power support equipment during inclement weather. Start by ensuring you have proper monitoring and maintenance systems in place and designated personnel who can keep an eye on your UPS, PDUs, Powerbar Solutions, and backup generators during a hurricane. This way you are always aware of how your systems operate during a power outage and can prevent further disruptions.

Is Your Facility Ready for Hurricane Season?

Your uninterruptible power supply is a vital component in your facility, especially with storm season approaching. Ensuring that it will be able to power your data center during inclement weather requires the right maintenance and the right equipment. If you’re ready to learn more about how to optimize your facility with the right services and devices, sign up for our newsletter to receive all the latest information on how to keep your operations running smoothly.