Pro tip: Check your backup power source BEFORE the storm hits

Last Tuesday during a big thunderstorm in Nashville, my client's server room went down hard because the UPS battery had corroded terminals. I didn't spot it during my routine check the week before because the display showed green. Three years ago I had a similar scare in my own shop when a cheap surge protector caught fire after a lightning strike. Now I pop open every UPS case once a month to inspect the actual battery connections and not just trust the LED. That storm cost my client about 4 hours of downtime and a lot of frustrated employees. Has anyone else had a backup system fail when you needed it most?

2 comments

2 Comments

danielmartinez20d ago

Pop the case open once a month? That feels excessive, don't you get worried about breaking the seals or voiding the warranty?

gonzalez.anna20d ago

I popped my case open after two years with no issues. Worrying about seals is kind of overblown with most modern hardware, they're not that fragile. Warranty stickers arent legally binding in a lot of places anyway, at least in the US. Just be gentle with the clips and you're fine.