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Reserve Your Seat TodayWhen one of your remote sites loses commercial power, what happens next can make or break you.
Backup batteries and generators should step in automatically, but without proper oversight, these redundant power systems can fail at the worst possible moment. That's when the costs start piling up. You'll have lost revenue, damaged equipment, regulatory fines, and (in some cases) even lives at risk.
Let's break down the common pain points, the solutions you need to address them, and some specific devices that can provide a proven, reliable answer.
Most generators are equipped with built-in control systems that automatically start during a power outage. That's the good news.
The bad news? Without proper monitoring, you may not even realize the generator has started.
What happens next? The generator burns through its fuel reserves, leaving your site completely offline when the tank empties. All the while, you're in the dark - unaware of the problem until it's too late. You could have easily solved it, if only you had known.
Batteries are your first line of defense during an outage, but even one bad battery can bring down an entire string.
Voltage imbalances or deteriorating internal resistance can cause a cascade failure, leaving your site vulnerable before the generator has a chance to kick in. At best, you're cutting your total uptime by requiring generator fuel immediately upon commercial power failure. Without individual battery monitoring, these issues often go undetected.
For industries like telecom and power utilities, regulatory compliance isn't optional. You might need to log generator runtime, fuel consumption, or emissions data to meet state and federal requirements.
Failing to provide this data - or exceeding limits due to unmonitored systems - can lead to big fines.
Regular maintenance is critical for reliable backup power. Generators need to be exercised weekly, fuel tanks need inspection, and batteries should be tested regularly. Without automated monitoring, these tasks can easily be missed, leaving your systems unprepared for emergencies.
Voltage irregularities from failing batteries or misconfigured inverters can damage the very equipment your backup power is supposed to protect. Replacing this equipment has a direct cost. It also prolongs your downtime.
To avoid these expensive problems, you need a comprehensive backup power monitoring and management system. Here's what that system should provide:
At DPS, we've been solving remote monitoring challenges for decades. Our systems are designed to provide the visibility, control, and peace of mind you need to keep your sites operational. Here's how our products tackle the most critical backup power issues:
Batteries are critical during the transition from commercial power to generator power. With DPS Battery Voltage Monitor (BVM) Sensors, you can monitor individual cells for voltage, temperature, and internal resistance.
Why does this matter? A single bad cell can disrupt an entire string, reducing capacity and risking site downtime.
BVM Sensors alert you to imbalances or early signs of degradation, so you can take action before failure occurs. This proactive approach extends battery life and ensures your "uninterruptible" backup power is actually ready when you need it.
Most generators will start automatically when power fails, but that's not enough to guarantee reliability. Without monitoring, you won't know if the generator is running, how much fuel is left, or if it's experiencing maintenance issues.
A NetGuardian RTU changes that by integrating with your generator's control system. It tracks runtime, fuel levels, and alarms for conditions like low oil pressure, overheating, or failed starts.
You'll know immediately if the generator fails to start or is consuming fuel faster than expected, allowing you to refuel or perform maintenance before the site goes dark.
Running out of generator fuel during an extended outage is a common - and entirely avoidable - problem. DPS monitoring systems connect to sensors on your fuel tanks, providing real-time data on fuel levels. Whether your tanks are horizontal, vertical, or underground, you'll receive alerts for low levels and track usage trends to ensure timely refueling.
Managing multiple sites can feel overwhelming without the right tools. That's where the T/Mon master station comes in. T/Mon collects data from all your RTUs, providing a single dashboard where you can monitor backup power, review alarms, and generate compliance reports.
For example, T/Mon's derived alarms can notify you of missed generator exercises, combining time-based logic with generator status data. It can also suppress unnecessary alerts, like routine generator operations, so you only see alarms that require attention.
Whether it's tracking generator runtime for EPA compliance or creating reports for internal audits, T/Mon simplifies the process. Automated reporting tools save time and reduce human error, ensuring you stay compliant without adding administrative overhead.
Imagine this: A remote telecom site in the middle of winter loses commercial power. The generator starts automatically, but without monitoring, no one notices it's running.
Hours later, the generator runs out of fuel, and the site goes offline completely. By the time a technician arrives, the outage has already impacted service - and customer complaints are pouring in.
(NOTE: During a hurricane, you're likely to see this problem at dozens of sites simultaneously!)
Now, consider the same scenario with DPS monitoring in place. A NetGuardian RTU alerts your team the moment the generator starts, and ongoing fuel level data shows how long the generator can run. A fuel delivery is dispatched well before the tank runs dry, keeping the site operational and preventing any service interruptions.
This proactive approach doesn't just save you from outages - it protects your reputation and keeps your customers happy.
Failing to monitor your backup power systems is a gamble that rarely pays off. The costs of doing nothing are far greater than the investment in proactive monitoring.
Whether it's a battery failure, a dry fuel tank, or a missed generator test, each issue has the potential to spiral into a full-blown crisis.
At DPS, we specialize in helping clients like you solve complex monitoring challenges. From battery management to generator monitoring and fuel tracking, our tools provide the reliability and peace of mind you need.
Don't let power failures control your remote sites. Call us today at 559-454-1600 or email us at sales@dpstele.com to speak with an expert. We'll design a custom solution tailored to your needs, ensuring your backup systems are always ready to perform.
Your sites deserve better than guesswork. With DPS monitoring installed at your sites, you'll always know what's happening - and be ready to act.
Andrew Erickson
Andrew Erickson is an Application Engineer at DPS Telecom, a manufacturer of semi-custom remote alarm monitoring systems based in Fresno, California. Andrew brings more than 17 years of experience building site monitoring solutions, developing intuitive user interfaces and documentation, and opt...
