A method is provided for detecting a failure of a rectifier or a rectifier source in context of an uninterruptible power supply. The method includes: measuring an input current into the rectifier from a primary power source; determining a rate of change in the measured current; determining a current difference between a reference current and the measured current; measuring voltage output by the rectifier; determining a voltage difference between a reference voltage and the measured voltage; and detecting a failure condition of the rectifier as a function of the measured input current, the rate of change in the measured current, the current difference, the measured voltage and the voltage difference. More specifically, a failure condition of the rectifier is identified when the input current is decreasing and the rate of change in the measured current is decreasing and the current difference is increasing and the voltage difference is increasing.