You're staring at the computer screen. the air conditioner comes on and then abruptly shuts down. Your monitor flickers for a few seconds. Poof! Suddenly the numbers on that cost estimate have vanished. You've just been struck by dirty power.
Dirty power is any electrical current that varies by more than 10% from the usual 120 volts. Power spikes, surges, sags, and brownouts can destroy data on your computer and sometimes even ruin expensive equipment. That's disastrous when it's your gear.
To guard your data from dirty power, plug everything (computer, monitor, speakers, printer, modem) into a surge protector. Companies such as Kensington Microware build reliable surge protectors that safeguard systems from minor power annoyances. Kensington's latest offering are its SmartSockets protectors, which look like power strips with color-coded outlets. Depending on the model, they can handle power-adapter plugs and range in price from $20 to $50.
When a falling tree cuts off power in your neighborhood, however, a surge protector won't protect your computer. (The same goes for brownouts.) For that you need a UPS, or uninterruptible power supply. Computers such as the NEC system reviewed on p. 180 come bundled with UPS, which will sustain your system for a couple of minutes while you save active files.
If you have your own Web site or are the frequent victim of power outages, you need better protection. A UPS with about a 1,000 volt-ampere (VA) rating will do the trick. I recommend American Power Conversion's $699 Smart UPS-1000, which can handle the load from a computer for 25 minutes. The company has just introduced software that lets you check on the computer's status over the Web, so you never need wonder whether your system is running when you're on the road.
Coordinates: SmartSockets, Kensington Microware, 800-535-4242, www.kensington.com; Smart UPS-1000, American Power Conversion Corp., 800-877-4080, www.apcc.com .
Related Stories: | Topics:Technology, Technology Tips, Kensington Microware Ltd., American Power Conversion Corporation, Kensington, Manufacturing Sector, Technology Sector |
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Recent Comments | 2 Total
September 8, 2009 at 5:13pm by hanah rich
Hi there, and thanks for your email. Yeah, power is a pretty critical thing that your computer needs and it needs it to be stable. Luckily there is something you can do to help. There’s a class of devices called UPS or Uninterruptible Power Supplies which give you a few minutes to turn off your machine when there’s a power cut.They also do something more than that though. The way they work is by using your normal power source to charge a battery, while simultaneously using the battery to power your computer. This means that your computer is virtually isolated from your power source and can’t be affected by anything that happens. UPSes help protect your computer from surges, brown outs and other power nasties.
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