One thing is certain, we all rely on technology to keep our businesses, our homes, and our entire infrastructure operating on ’round the clock demand. Satisfying that demand requires dedicated maintenance, testing and monitoring of operational and backup systems -- particularly in the telecommunications, data center and utility industries.

Along with that demand comes the challenge: preventing costly outages and downtime due to weather, error, and battery failure with a solution that is easy-to-use and effective.

The United States endures more blackouts every year than any other developed nation, losing power 285% more often than it did in 1984. These events cost American businesses as much as $150 billion a year in losses (energy.gov). Moreover, electricity demand has increased 10 percent over the last decade; weather events account for 75 percent of all major outages; and backup batteries, by their nature, can be unreliable.

In the telecom industry, downtime means loss of short-term and long-term revenue, diminished employee productivity, damage to equipment and assets, and erosion of brand reputation. Telecom subscribers and providers have zero tolerance for outages and service interruptions. 24/7 access to networks is critical. 

Data center outages, according to The Ponemon Institute’s tri-annual report, have steadily increased since it started doing research on the industry in 2010. 

The best defense against all these challenges is a sound and reliable UPS ready to go when needed. This is crucial from both an emergency and financial standpoint. Armed with the proper tools, industry professionals can not only reduce downtime but also keep their companies in compliance with government standards.

A single bad battery within a UPS battery string poses a risk of downtime for critical operations. Whether your battery system is VRLA, VLA or NiCad (nickel-cadmium), battery failures account for more than one half of all UPS failures.  This is why regular maintenance of these batteries is critical to ensure backup power.

“We are constantly looking at ways to improve our service to our customers,” says Jim Laughlin, technical director at Linnet Technology Ltd., an UK-based UPS sales and service company. “As our service is concentrated on battery maintenance of UPS and emergency lighting systems, it is crucial we have the best diagnostic equipment at our disposal to highlight any problems at the earliest opportunity. This allows our customers to take the necessary steps to reduce costly power outages and ensure power continuity.”

“Having looked at the marketplace and what is available, it became clear that the best equipment for our needs was the Midtronics CAD-5000 unit (base kit),” Linnet says.

Linnet initially purchased one system but very quickly realized that the ease of use, time saved on site compared to other systems, and the detailed reports via the software were a real benefit to the company and its customers.

“We have subsequently purchased a further two systems with a view to having one for each engineer as the benefits are instant in our daily operations,” he adds.

The CELLTRON ADVANTAGE battery tester by Midtronics is an easy-to-use, reliable, quality tool for service providers and operations and maintenance teams. 

CELLTRON ADVANTAGE has the capability to test Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) and Vented Lead Acid (VLA) batteries. It is capable of providing battery voltage down to 1 volt and measures inter-cell and terminal connection resistance.

Instead of following recommended battery replacement schedules, trending batteries via testing with the CELLTRON ADVANTAGE allows you to replace them when it is most cost-effective. This prevents replacing batteries before their life cycle has ended or after it is too late and they are no longer effective.

The CELLTRON ADVANTAGE is also a quick and easy answer for compliance to the new NERC PRC-500 2 standard. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation, or NERC, is a non-profit regulatory organization operating in the United States, Canada, and the northern part of Baja California, Mexico. NERC ensures reliability of the bulk power system by developing and enforcing system standards.

Along with products, software and service, Midtronics | Stationary Power is committed to forging partnerships with clients, offering post-purchase training and support for every need. If something should go wrong, our consultants are available to support you and resolve issues as they arise.