Should I switch off my UPS?

A UPS is designed to stay on continuously. Only then can it protect your equipment at the moment a power cut or voltage fluctuation occurs, and these come without warning. In addition, while it is connected to the mains, its charger keeps the batteries fully charged. Lead-acid batteries left partly charged or discharged for long periods lose capacity.

Switching it off makes sense in specific cases: before work on the electricalGlossary · Power qualityNoise (Electrical)Unwanted high-frequency disturbances on the supply voltage, e.g. from motors or power supplies, which UPS systems and line conditioners filter out. installation, when moving the unit, or when it will sit unused for weeks. In that case, shut it down as the manual describes and recharge the batteries every few months, as they self-dischargeGlossary · BatteriesSelf-dischargeThe gradual loss of charge in a battery kept in storage without use, caused by internal chemical reactions. gradually, faster in a warm room.

There is no need to switch the UPS off at night or over the weekend in an office. You can shut down the connected devices as usual and leave the unit running.

A common mistake is connecting the UPS to a switched power strip or a timer that cuts it off every day. The unit then either goes to battery or is left without charging, and the batteries wear out for no reason.