Managing UPS backups for around 25 computers

I'm looking for some help here on being educated on knowing what sort of UPS would be best to keep here as the "standard" UPS to use on our computers at our business. 

As our company has grown, we have around 25 computers all tied in to our network, and I expect to add more in the coming years. Some of them are running some fairly robust graphics software so we're usually using at least a 1,000-1300vA  UPS on them, which has proved to be sufficient in the occasional power outage. Some of the workstations that are only used for general email/etc are running 600vA backups. 

These are all Windows machines, running 10 or 11. 

As they have started aging, we're asking ourselves what the simplest and most cost effective way to manage these things is going to be. I'm hoping to find a way of making sure they all use the same replacement batteries, even if the larger ones are running two of them. They really don't seem to advertise what replacement batteries are used on them, but most everything I'm looking at seems like it's all 12v, 7AH and they appear to be the same dimensions. 

I really don't know how universal these batteries are. And, from a cost-effectiveness standpoint, should we be sticking with lead-acid batteries or lithiums? 

 Are there any particular brands we should be focusing on? I realize some of this is just going to be a brand loyalty thing, but if there's objectively better reasons to be looking at specific choices from a business standpoint, I'm all ears.

In most of the installations I've worked on, they used a tiered set of guidelines to determine which units need more or less protection.  Not to be overlooked is the surge and lightning suppression.  Looking at the overall network, the critical units need the largest UPS units to keep the power hungry units running longer to allow an orderly shutdown before the UPS reaches its support limits.  Others might be mail servers and print servers with the terminals either limited or no UPS needed.

Just a thought:

Are they, by any chance, on a single Power Circuit, or are they just plugged into the Mains?

Have you considered using full building UPS backups for your entire floor / building?

The thought has crossed my mind, yes. I have no idea how to get a cost on that and compare it to what individual UPS backups will cost to maintain, long term. I'm definitely open to suggestions. Half of our computers are in offices (ie, sheetrock/metal studs) that make running new electrical circuits somewhat untenable unless we use exposed wiring/conduit, which is likewise not quite desired because our design team frequently entertains customers in their offices so they keep them as professional looking as possible. 

Seems to me however that it could put more systems at risk of a lightening strike, we are in a rather stormy area. As things currently stand, our computers are all spread across 4 different incoming electric panels. About half are on one panel, and the rest distributed evenly across the other 3 panels.

Just a thought:

 

Are they, by any chance, on a single Power Circuit, or are they just plugged into the Mains?

Plugged into mains. I think I know where you might be going with this, a central UPS system. A possibility I'd have to run by the business owner but could be a good solution.

Edited by Matt-Builds-Cabinets, 29 May 2024 - 10:30 AM.

Exposed wiring cables or conduits or electrical raceways on the walls or floors could be covered with aesthetically pleasing covering that are fitting for the room's decor or ambiences.

If your buildings are new/ish and have dropped ceilings . It should be possible to run a task specific mains above the ceiling tiles.

A diesel generator, set-up to cut in, when the power cuts out, and the whole circuit isolated from mains spikes and surges should be on the cards.

Probably cheaper than each machine having a Stand Alone UPS and would be very much cheaper to operate.

Here are some points to consider.  To save on cost and waste, you replace the batteries, not the UPS devices themselves, unless the UPS device actually failed.  The batteries replacement can be done over time.  The best test is to unplug the UPS from the power outlet, and evaluate the remaining power duration.  Replace the battery when the remaining power duration becomes unacceptable.

About batteries, you replace them with batteries of the same type (12V, acid-lead) of equal or better capacity (7 Ah or higher).  You can't use a different type. Why?  Because the battery charging circuit is not designed for anything different.

Here are some points to consider.  To save on cost and waste, you replace the batteries, not the UPS devices themselves, unless the UPS device actually failed.  The batteries replacement can be done over time.  The best test is to unplug the UPS from the power outlet, and evaluate the remaining power duration.  Replace the battery when the remaining power duration becomes unacceptable.

About batteries, you replace them with batteries of the same type (12V, acid-lead) of equal or better capacity (7 Ah or higher).  You can't use a different type. Why?  Because the battery charging circuit is not designed for anything different.

Yes, that's actually somewhat the point of my post, I'm asking around if these 12v lead acid batteries are as universal as they appear to be. Seems like every battery backup I've gone to order batteries for lists a different SKU for the replacement battery, but every one of them is a 12v, 7Ah that looks identical to the eye. So unless there's just a few millimeters difference in their sizes, I'm suspicious that there's really only 1 battery I need to keep a spare of sitting around until/unless we decide to move to a central UPS system.