Re: Anyone uses UPS units to protect your confocal/2-P systems?

Posted by Craig Brideau on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Anyone-uses-UPS-units-to-protect-your-confocal-2-P-systems-tp7591892p7591902.html

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As a related aside, most UPS systems use lead-acid batteries for storage.
These typically have a lifespan of 4-5 years in a typical UPS. Make sure to
replace them after about four years in service. Better quality UPS systems
will include an alert to indicate when the batteries are aging out.
Batteries also don't fare well in storage, so it is pointless to buy spares
ahead of time. Make sure you have some lead to account for ordering and
delivery time of the new batteries, and keep tabs on your vendor over time
to ensure you can still get the model of battery you need.

Craig

On Mon, Feb 22, 2021 at 4:27 PM Jacqueline Ross <[hidden email]>
wrote:

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> Hi Mario,
>
> One more thing I forgot to say is that our 20kVA system has an additional
> use as an alert system. If the power goes off, it is set up to send a
> signal to a phone relay system which calls our contractors and alerts them
> to the power outage. We have 4 phone numbers so it calls people in order
> and if the first 3 don’t answer, I get the call and can alert the necessary
> staff.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Jacqui
>
> From: Confocal Microscopy List <[hidden email]> On
> Behalf Of Jacqueline Ross
> Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 12:09 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: Anyone uses UPS units to protect your confocal/2-P systems?
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> Hi Mario,
>
> We have a UPS for every system in our facility. They are primarily 3kVA
> systems, with a couple higher spec, e.g. the one for 3 phase (20kVA – over
> spec but was the only one available at the time).. They are mainly Socomec
> but we also have MGE. They are all online UPS so smooth as well as protect
> from spikes/outages.
>
> Every microscope user is trained to listen for the beeping and shut the
> system down if this is ongoing. Also, we have them all plugged into
> essential power sockets. These sockets are provided with power by
> generators in the event of a complete campus power failure but don’t come
> on if it’s just local, e.g. one building/floor.
>
> We started adding these to every new system after having had a very
> expensive repair bill ($10k) after our Leica confocal went off and on
> again. They are included in our business cases as a necessary expense.
>
> The UPS are cheaper than the necessary repairs. We also have a contract
> with a local supplier to check them and replace batteries regularly,.
> Otherwise, they wouldn’t be much use.
>
> They are also really good for the time-lapse systems because a short
> outage or spike would otherwise terminate the experiment immediately.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Jacqui
>
> From: Confocal Microscopy List <[hidden email]<mailto:
> [hidden email]>> On Behalf Of Mario Methot
> Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 2:50 AM
> To: [hidden email]<mailto:
> [hidden email]>
> Subject: Anyone uses UPS units to protect your confocal/2-P systems?
>
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> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy><
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy<
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy>>
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com<http://www.imgur.com><
> http://www.imgur.com<http://www.imgur.com>> and include the link in your
> posting.
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>
> Hi all,
>
> We are unfortunately facing many unplanned (random) electricity
> outages/voltage variations in our Institute (it's a very old building) and
> our systems (and particularly lasers) don't like it too much... I was
> wondering if some of you are using UPS units to protect your confocal/2-P
> systems? If so what type of UPS are you using? All the info you could
> provide would be most welcome, thanks in advance.
>
> Mario
>