The Essential Guide to Commissioning Your Uninterruptible Power Supply

by Isaac Prakash August 31, 2023

UPS commissioning is an essential step in guaranteeing uninterruptible power for your home or business. Non-specialist electrical engineers and testers are not always trained and experienced in all of the checks that need to be undertaken, so it is important that you find the right company to undertake this process for you.

If you are looking to commission a UPS system for your business, or simply want to better understand the process and steps involved, check out our comprehensive guide below…

What is UPS commissioning and why is it important?

UPS, or uninterruptible power supply, commissioning is essentially the process by which all of your connections, components and peripherals are tested. This must happen in order to make sure that your UPS system works as designed.

It involves a huge number of checks and should not be overlooked for your new UPS system.

The main reason that it is so important is simple: there is little point in having a UPS that does not, in fact, provide an uninterruptible power supply. The only way to guarantee that yours does is to test and check it.

You can then discover any issues, prevent downtime, and ensure that your UPS will work perfectly if and when the need arises.

Pre-commissioning checks and preparations

Commissioning your UPS system should ideally begin before you have installed your UPS. You can then get a review of the equipment you are planning to use, where it will go, and ensure that you are on the right track for installation of your UPS.

You can then check that you have installed your UPS correctly and in the right location and conditions, before getting ready to commission it. The vendor or whoever installed your UPS may turn on the system to check it has been properly installed and looks to be working.

Naturally, all of the necessary safety precautions should be considered as well before commissioning your UPS system.

A step-by-step guide to commissioning a UPS system

A thorough commissioning of a UPS system is best carried out by the experts at UPS Solutions, who have comprehensive knowledge and experience ensuring your UPS system will perform to the levels needed.

For those going through these steps yourself, remember to always take every safety precaution as you go along. They exist for a very good reason!

Full electrical test, or earth test, of all of the equipment, the supply, breakers, connections and cables.
An environmental test to check the location, for moisture and the temperature (can be done as part of the pre-commissioning checks).
Ensure that the UPS device itself has not been damaged during or since installation.
Replace any damaged components.
Double check installation is in line not only with the manufacturer’s recommendations but also any local codes and needs.
Check and verify the UPS voltage output.
Check the rectifier by applying mains voltage and recording, and checking the battery voltage and polarity.
Check the inverter and measure the output voltage.
Check all switches and breakers are in the open position.
Simulate a power black-out by switching off the input isolator so the inverter will run on batteries.
Turn off the inverter, and then turn it on to verify that the load will automatically be passed back to the inverter.
Check the alarms.
Ensure that proper cooling is taking place.

Best practices to follow during the commissioning process

It is generally agreed that the best practice for commissioning your UPS is to leave it to true specialists. This is a key reason why you should choose UPS Solutions to commission your UPS today.

UPS commissioning can require over 100 checks, from the correct installation, tightness and working order of each component through to the big picture of whether it is working efficiently and effectively.

Again safety precautions must also be taken when working with electricity; accidents can happen and issues can be missed if the commissioning process is not done right.

Post-commissioning care and routine maintenance

Once your UPS system is up and running, ready to perform when needed and at an optimal level, the job is still not done. Regular maintenance and care is needed to keep it at that level, or else you are risking damage or deterioration that could cause it to fail at a later date.

A visual inspection should be given routinely to keep an eye out for any fluids, wear or issues that you can see. Battery maintenance is essential, including checking the voltage and temperature levels. You also need to keep a clean environment for your UPS system, and ensure that dust and other particles don’t build up in your machine by cleaning filters and the components regularly.

Regular testing is also required, and you should keep thorough and detailed records of your maintenance schedule and any issues that arise. Between all these jobs and more, and with the importance of a fully functioning UPS for most businesses, it is unsurprising that so many choose to contact UPS Solutions for their commissioning and maintenance instead.

Lives may well depend on your commitment to commissioning your UPS properly.

Conclusion

For smooth and efficient commissioning of your UPS system, count on the experts at UPS Solutions. Explore our range of high-quality products and services. Reach out to us for personalised advice and support for all your UPS needs. Your journey to reliable power is just one click away!