Your Pharmaceuticals Refrigerator Might Ask for More Power as It Ages — Are Your Batteries Up to the Task?
In most medical and laboratory settings, refrigerators are the quiet workhorses of the operation — preserving vaccines, medications, reagents, and patient samples day in and day out. They rarely draw attention until something goes wrong. But over time, even the most reliable medical refrigerators change in ways that can have serious implications for your backup power system.
As compressors wear down and components age, your refrigerator can begin to draw more power than it did when it was new. That extra demand might seem minor, but during a power outage — when every watt counts — it can mean the difference between continuous protection and an unexpected shutdown.
The Hidden Cost of Aging Refrigeration
Like any mechanical system, medical-grade refrigerators become less efficient over time. The compressor, the part responsible for maintaining precise internal temperatures, gradually loses efficiency. As it compensates, it runs longer cycles and draws more current to achieve the same cooling performance.
That additional strain often goes unnoticed because it happens slowly. But when your facility switches to backup battery power during an outage, those extra amps suddenly matter. What once was a comfortable four-hour backup window could shrink — potentially jeopardizing critical inventory.
Even the smallest increase in power demand can accelerate battery depletion, especially if your backup system was sized years ago when equipment was newer. It’s a silent shift that can turn a compliant setup into a vulnerable one.
Battery Capacity: The Other Half of the Equation
Battery systems are incredibly reliable when properly maintained, but their capacity isn’t infinite. Batteries themselves age, losing a small percentage of capacity each year depending on usage, environment, and maintenance.
When you combine an aging refrigerator that’s working harder with batteries that hold slightly less charge, your backup system can deliver significantly less runtime than expected. And unfortunately, you may not realize it until an outage occurs — when it’s too late to fix.
Regular testing and capacity checks can reveal whether your batteries still meet the power requirements of your connected equipment. Think of it like preventive medicine for your facility’s electrical health: early diagnosis avoids an emergency later.
Why Routine Reassessment Matters
The electrical landscape of your facility isn’t static. Over time, you might add new equipment, upgrade lighting, or change operating hours. Each of these can affect load demand. Yet backup power systems are often “set and forgotten” after installation.
A periodic load reassessment ensures your batteries are properly matched to your current power draw — not the draw you had five or ten years ago. It’s also a good opportunity to test your batteries’ performance under load conditions that simulate a real outage.
Medi-Products recommends routine verification to ensure your backup power system remains ready when you need it most.
Keeping Your Cold Chain Protected
Every healthcare facility understands the critical importance of maintaining the cold chain. Temperature-sensitive medications, vaccines, and biological materials depend on precise storage conditions. A gradual decline in power efficiency — whether from the refrigerator, the batteries, or both — can put that entire chain at risk.
Battery backup systems are meant to eliminate uncertainty during an outage. But to do that effectively, both your equipment load and your battery capacity must work in harmony. When one side begins to age faster than the other, the balance shifts. The result can be reduced runtime, compliance risks, and potential product loss.
Aging Happens — Preparedness Is a Choice
No equipment lasts forever, but with proper monitoring and proactive maintenance, your backup system can adapt as your refrigeration units age. A quick load analysis today could reveal whether your current batteries are still sufficient — or if it’s time for an upgrade.
At Medi-Products, we’ve spent over 30 years designing medical-grade battery backup systems that evolve with your needs. Our systems are built to provide reliable, automatic power for medical refrigerators, freezers, and other life safety equipment — ensuring your critical inventory stays cold, compliant, and protected, even as your facility grows and your equipment ages.
Because power isn’t just about electricity — it’s about trust. And in healthcare, trust means being ready for anything.
Call 1.800.765.3237 or fill out the form below to schedule a load assessment or learn more about how to optimize your backup system for the years ahead.
