April 2007

Don't Interrupt Me

Prevent possible catastrophic computer interruptions with a UPS

If your home caught fire, would you grab precious family photos or the camera that took them?

That’s the same logic you should use with valuable computer data.

“Your data can be worth much more than the computer system itself,” says WEMC’s Dan Guy, “especially if you’re using the computer to run your business. Guy is a power quality expert who specializes in protecting electrical systems and equipment from damage.

Can you imagine losing invoices, accounts payable files or critical customer information? It could literally put you out of business.

But businesses are not the only ones in danger. Think of the information on your personal computer. It may contain valuable financial data, your stock portfolio or digital family photos and video.

Unfortunately we can’t provide uninterruptible power–that is, until we’re able to control thunderstorms, traffic that strikes power poles and construction equipment that digs up our wires.

So what’s the best way to protect your computer from unexpected outages? A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) provides the solution.

A UPS works by providing a cushion of power to allow the user to safely shut down a computer when the power goes out.Electricity continuously charges on-board batteries that take over during a blackout. The batteries power an inverter that changes their direct current into the same alternating current your computer gets from the wall socket during normal operation.

Line interactive UPS take the protection a step further. Even when electricity is flowing, it supplements the voltage if a drop is detected or lowers the voltage if a spike occurs.

All well and good. But what if you’re not around when the power goes out. Does a UPS just delay the inevitable for 15 minutes?

Not the TrippLite SmartPro Tower UPS. It includes PowerAlert monitoring and unattended shutdown software. If the SmartPro detects a power failure, it automatically properly shuts down any attached computer.

For advanced applications, it can broadcast a network message or send email if it detects an outage.

“If you buy a UPS without shutdown software, you’re just buying a sense of false security,” says Guy.

Get your SmartPro UPS with PowerAlert software from Walton EMC for only $350. Not only do you get a UPS–you get the knowledge and advice from the electricity experts.

“You can buy cheaper systems,” says Guy, “but they’re not line interactive, don’t include shutdown software and aren’t covered by TrippLite’s two-year warranty and up to $250,000 connected equipment insurance.”

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