Why the UPS Failed During a Blackout but Passed All Tests?

Emeritus Professor Akhtar Kalam’s Electrifying Mysteries

This webinar series provides a structured examination of real-world engineering challenges. Each session will address specific, technically focused topics relevant to professional engineers.

Webinar details

Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) are designed to perform flawlessly during power disturbances—yet real-world failures continue to occur at the worst possible moment: during an actual blackout. This webinar explores a compelling engineering mystery in which a UPS system passed all routine inspections, load tests, and commissioning checks, yet failed catastrophically when needed most.

Through a forensic engineering lens, participants will examine hidden failure modes, including battery degradation under dynamic load, inverter transfer delays, control logic anomalies, and upstream protection coordination issues. The session bridges the gap between laboratory validation and real-world operating conditions, highlighting why “passing tests” does not always guarantee reliability in practice.

• The webinar will be recorded and will be sent out to registered attendees afterwards.
• A certificate of attendance will be provided to attendees who request one near the end of the live webinar session.
• Please note: the time stated on this event is in UTC. You will need to convert this to your own time zone.

Key takeaways from this webinar

• Understand the limitations of standard UPS testing protocols versus real-world transient conditions.
• Identify hidden failure modes in batteries, static switches, and inverter control systems.
• Analyse the impact of load characteristics (nonlinear, inrush, harmonics) on UPS performance.
• Develop improved testing, maintenance, and validation strategies for mission-critical systems.

Related courses

This webinar/topic relates to our school of Electrical Engineering and is particularly found in the following courses:

• Professional Certificate of Competency in Circuit Breakers, Switchgear & Power Transformers
• Professional Certificate of Competency in Power Distribution
• 52888WA Advanced Diploma of Applied Electrical Engineering (Power Industry)
• 52892WA Advanced Diploma of Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) Engineering in Mining
• 52883WA Advanced Diploma of Applied Electrical Engineering (Electrical Systems)
• UET60222 Advanced Diploma of ESI – Power Systems (Australia & New Zealand Only)
• Online – Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering)
• Online – Master of Engineering (Electrical Systems)

To learn more about tuition fees, please click here.

About the presenter

Emeritus Professor Akhtar Kalam

BSc, BScEng, MS, PhD, FIET, CEng, FAIE, FIEAust, CPEng, NER, APEC Engineer, IntPE(Aus), PEV, MCIGRE, Life Senior Member of IEEE.

Professor Akhtar Kalam is a supervisor of EIT’s Doctoral students. He has worked at Victoria University since 1984 and recently associated with the Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities. He is the Editor in Chief of Australian Journal of Electrical & Electronics Engineering. Further, he has Distinguished Professorship position in many national and international institutions. He has been recognized internationally and nationally for his research. He is regularly invited to deliver lectures, work on industrial projects, and examine external theses overseas. Professor Kalam is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Victoria (PEV), Fellow of EA, IET, AIE, a life Senior Member of IEEE, NER, APEC Engineer, IntPE (Aus) and a member of CIGRE AP B5 Study Committee.