A storage controller has a capacitor pack for storing energy to supply
power during a main power loss, a temperature sensor that senses the
capacitor pack temperature, and a CPU, which detects that the temperature
of the capacitor pack has risen above a predetermined threshold while
operating at a first voltage value and determines whether a projected
lifetime of the capacitor pack is less than the warranted lifetime. If
the projected lifetime is less than the warranted lifetime, the CPU
reduces the operating voltage of the capacitor pack to a second value, in
order to increase the capacitor pack lifetime. In one embodiment, the CPU
reduces the voltage if an accumulated normalized running time of the
capacitor pack is greater than an accumulated calendar running time. In
another embodiment, the CPU reduces the voltage if a percentage
capacitance drop of the capacitor pack is greater than a calendar
percentage capacitance drop.