Power maintenance reduction-a mixed blessing

There has been much interest expressed regarding the reduction of the expense associated with the maintenance of telecommunications power plants. Technological advances have drastically reduced the numbers of technicians in the central office. Since the smaller switches used less power, smaller plants were needed, and dedicated power room technicians were the first to be eliminated when the budget for technicians was cut. The switch technician must now maintain the power plant. In similar fashion, when the office workload is high, power maintenance is a lower priority and is usually postponed, sometimes indefinitely. Frequently, this leads to catastrophic failures. It is argued that the cost of maintenance plus the cost of neglect must be considered. Modern equipment and tooling is capable of reducing the risk for the power plant. The author explores products and techniques which may reduce the need (or frequency) for periodic maintenance, while reducing the risk of plant failure. Techniques relating to battery maintenance, battery stands, and engine sets are examined