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How to choose the right UPS service approach

How to choose the right UPS service approach
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How to choose the right UPS service approach - 1

White Paper By Arthur Mulligan Product Line Manager, Eaton U.S. Power Quality How to choose the right UPS service approach Powering Business Worldwide Option 4: Time and material 4 Questions to ask when considering T&M 4 Introduction The old adage of, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" may be feasible in some circumstances, but applying it to the maintenance of a UPS can have devastating consequences. All manufacturers' UPSs are complex devices that are critical to business operations yet inherently dangerous and subject to failure. Risk can be avoided by implementing the right service approach. In a study done by the Ponemon Institute, the average cost of downtime reported across 41 datacenters was a staggering $505K per event with an average duration of 1.7 hours. Not surprisingly of the reasons cited, power management issues were at the top of the list. Research indicates that regular preventative maintenance significantly reduces failure rates by allowing potential threats to be identified early. Based on Eaton service records, over 25% of preventive maintenance visits result in follow-up service to perform corrective actions or upgrades, affording customers the opportunity to repair potential problems before they become significant issues. When mapping out your uptime strategy, there are four primary options for maintaining UPSs. This paper explores each and outlines the differences and specific advantages among these alternatives. What type of service approach is best for your? 2 Common questions for choosing a service provider and plan 2 Option 1: UPS manufacturer's internal service organization 2 Option 2: Independent service provider 3 Option 3: Self-maintenance 4 Questions to ask when considering

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How to choose the right UPS service approach - 2

What type of service approach is best for you? Selecting a service provider for your UPS can be a complex decision. Some customers simply purchase a service contract or extended warranty from the UPS manufacturer, while others prefer to contract with an independent service provider. A handful of companies employ internal engineers who are capable of maintaining all or certain parts of the power equipment. Still others choose to engage in UPS service only when something goes wrong. All of these options have advantages and disadvantages, with no one choice being the best solution for every...

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How to choose the right UPS service approach - 3

Option 2: Independent service provider An independent service provider is a third-party organization that often offers a range of services for UPSs or power quality equipment, such as maintenance, consulting, start-up, installation and emergency service. Although independent service providers are frequently priced lower than a UPS manufacturer, they also generally have fewer resources available and may not be comprehensively trained on your particular UPS model. While an independent service provider’s field technicians have usually received training on either a specific UPS product or...

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How to choose the right UPS service approach - 4

Option 3: Self-maintenance If an organization has an internal resource that possesses sufficient electrical and safety skills, it may make economic sense to perform self-maintenance on a UPS. The most important aspect of self-maintenance is to have an efficient plan in place, in which routine scheduled maintenance is performed and common wear items such as batteries and capacitors are proactively addressed. First responder training enables a skilled person to understand the operation, safety, environmental concerns and basics of preventive maintenance on a specific UPS. Safety concerns...

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How to choose the right UPS service approach - 5

About Eaton Although UPS technology has improved significantly over the past 20 years, routine maintenance of these complex devices is critical for organizations wishing to avoid the potentially devastating and extremely costly consequences of downtime. Whether you choose to engage in a regular preventive maintenance contract with a UPS manufacturer, rely on an independent service provider, perform routine maintenance in-house, or call upon professional expertise only when needed, there are specific benefits to each option, as well as disadvantages of which you should be aware. Regardless...

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