Power in a care community rarely fails in a clean way. More often there is a flicker, a brief outage or a few minutes of unstable voltage while a generator starts. Lights may come back, but switches, wireless controllers, phone systems and nurse call equipment may restart, and their recovery takes minutes. For a facility that depends on these systems for care, that gap matters.
An uninterruptible power supply, or UPS, bridges the gap with battery power. Sized and maintained properly, it keeps critical network gear running through short outages and gives the generator time to start. Here is how to think about sizing and planning without becoming an electrician.
Start with an inventory. Walk each network closet and list devices that care or safety depend on.
Core and access switches, especially those powering wireless access points and phones.
Firewalls, routers and internet equipment.
Phone system servers or gateways.
Nurse call, door access and alert system controllers, if they connect to your network.
Servers or storage devices on site.
Wireless controllers and any devices in the closet that serve care areas.
Do not forget that many access points, phones and cameras are powered by the switch. When the switch loses power, all of them do.
UPS units are rated in volt-amperes (VA) and watts. The watt rating is the one that matters most for load.
Find the power draw, in watts, on each device's label or specification sheet. Switches that supply power to other devices need more, and their total depends on what is connected.
Add up the watts for all equipment on the UPS.
Add a safety margin. A common practice is to keep the load well under the UPS's rated capacity, leaving room for growth. Follow the manufacturer's guidance on the right margin.
Check the UPS's rated capacity in watts, not only VA.
If you are unsure, an electrician or your IT partner can measure the actual draw.
Runtime depends on the battery size and the load. Decide what you are protecting against.
Short outages and flickers. A few minutes covers most brief interruptions.
Generator transfer. If your building has a generator, the UPS only needs to carry the load through the transfer, which usually takes seconds to a couple of minutes. Confirm the actual transfer time with your facility's maintenance team or electrician.
Longer outages. Without a generator, extended runtime needs larger batteries, and may not be practical for every device. Prioritize life-safety and communication devices.
Manufacturers publish runtime charts showing how long a UPS lasts at a given load. Use them, and test the actual runtime.
Generators and UPS units can work together, but they do not always get along. Some generators produce power that fluctuates, which can cause UPS units to switch repeatedly to battery. Ask your electrician about generator power quality, and whether network closets are on circuits that receive emergency power. Confirm that equipment tied to care is on the correct emergency circuits, and label those outlets clearly.
Use UPS models with network or USB management, so you receive alerts when running on battery.
Choose rack-mounted or closet-appropriate units with proper ventilation, since heat shortens battery life.
Plug devices directly into the UPS, avoiding stacked power strips.
Consider a dedicated circuit if the closet shares outlets with other loads.
Label what is connected to each UPS.
UPS batteries wear out, often within a few years, depending on the model and conditions, so check the manufacturer's stated battery life.
Check status lights and alerts monthly.
Test by briefly simulating an outage, in a planned window, at least annually.
Record battery install dates and replace on schedule.
Keep spare batteries or a replacement plan, since a dead battery protects nothing.
Include UPS checks in your regular preventive maintenance routines.
Keep a list of which closets have UPS units, what each protects, and what the runtime is. Add power failure to your downtime procedures, so staff know what to expect and whom to call.
UnityCare IT helps senior-living and long-term care operators inventory network closets, size UPS protection and coordinate with electricians. A short walkthrough can often find the weak spots before the next outage does.
Wi-Fi, switching, firewalls and internet that hold up across a whole facility.
Call or text: 405-285-3845
New customers: start@unitycareit.com
Existing customers: support@unitycareit.com
Address: UnityCare Technologies, 2524 N Broadway Ste 554, PMB 947974, Edmond, Oklahoma 73034-4172