Your new UPS protects your equipment only once it is set up, charged and configured. These steps take about an hour of your time, plus the charging time. Follow your model's quick-start guide where it differs.
1. Unpack it and choose the spot
Check the unit and its accessories against the packing list, and keep the box until you have confirmed that everything works. Place the UPS where air circulates freely, away from heaters and direct sun: lead-acid batteries last longest at 20 to 25°C, and every 8°C above that cuts their life roughly in half [5]. If the unit arrived cold, let it reach room temperature before you switch it on.
2. Connect the battery, if needed
Some models ship with the internal battery disconnected. The quick-start guide shows how to connect it, usually behind the front panel.
3. Plug it in and let it charge
Plug the UPS directly into a grounded wall outlet, not into a power bar or an extension cord. Let the battery charge before you rely on it: the charging time depends on the model, so use the time given in its quick-start guide. The battery charges whether the UPS is switched on or off [4].
4. Connect your equipment
Connect the equipment you need to keep running to the battery-backed outlets, and keep the total load within the UPS rating in watts and VA. Leave high-draw devices such as laser printers and space heaters off the battery outlets; use surge-only outlets for them if your model has them.
5. Secure the network card
If your UPS has a network management card, give it an IP address and sign in to its web page. The card starts with a factory default login documented by the maker [1][2]. Change it at the first sign-in: Eaton's Network-M2 card forces the change [2], and an unchanged default login leaves the UPS open to anyone on the network.
6. Record the battery install date
Many UPS models estimate when the battery needs replacing from its install date. On an APC Smart-UPS SMT, for example, selecting "Install New Battery" in the LCD configuration menu sets the replace-battery date, 4.5 years later by default [3]. On other models, set the date from the display, the network card or the monitoring software. Write the date on a label on the UPS as well.
7. Test it and install the shutdown software
Once the battery is fully charged, run a self-test from the display or the software. Then install the maker's shutdown software (APC PowerChute, Eaton Intelligent Power Manager, Tripp Lite PowerAlert or CyberPower PowerPanel) so your servers close down cleanly in a long outage. Most UPS batteries last three to five years [5].
When to call us
Call or write to us if an alarm will not clear, the battery does not charge, the runtime looks short, or you are not sure a device can go on the battery outlets. For rack installation, hardwired or three-phase units, and on-site start-up, our service partner GDF Technologies can do the work.
Send us the UPS model and a photo of its label, and we will help. Contact us.
Sources: [1] Schneider Electric FAQ FA156064, "How do I configure APC Network Management Card network settings?" (se.com, read 2026-09-30). [2] Eaton Knowledge Hub 000010948, "Network-M2 reset password" (knowledgehub.eaton.com, read 2026-09-30). [3] Schneider Electric FAQ FA156816, "The Replace Battery Date on my new SMT series Smart-UPS is incorrect" (se.com, read 2026-09-30). [4] CyberPower FAQ, "Do I have to have the UPS turned on in order for it to charge?" (cyberpowersystems.com, read 2026-09-30). [5] Schneider Electric FAQ FA158934, "What is the expected life of my APC UPS VRLA battery?" (se.com, read 2026-09-30).