Sure Your Computer's Protected?

If you use an uninterruptible power supply with your computer, you may not be as protected as you think

Just because there's a UPS on your computer, don't rest easy; a major catastrophe may still be looming.

"Many people have a false sense of security just because they're using an uninterruptible power supply with their computer," says WEMC Marketing Specialist Dan Guy.

"If the power goes out, even if you have a UPS on your computer, you're just postponing the inevitable for 15 or 30 minutes if you're not there. When the UPS' batteries run out, your computer is going to crash anyway," says Guy.

That's why Guy suggests some of the newer UPS units that communicate directly with the computer. A serial cable connects the UPS to the computer and alerts it if the power goes out. Special software then instructs the computer to close any open programs and then shut itself down in the proper fashion. You'll only spend around an extra $25 for this feature.

Another false sense of security comes when people think their UPS also acts as a surge suppressor. "The surge suppression capability in UPS units is only enough to protect the UPS itself," says Guy. "You should still use high-quality suppressors for your computer even if you use a UPS for power backup."

Another at-odds situation is trying to use a home generator to power your computer. "We've become so dependent on our computers that we want to use them all the time, even if the power's out," says Guy. "And with the booming popularity of small home generators, people are connecting their computers to them. A small generator is fine for motor-driven appliances like refrigerators and freezers. But computers and electronics require higher power quality than the average small generator can produce."

That's when a buck-boost UPS comes in handy. The buck-boost UPS continually monitors the quality of the power coming from the generator (or any other power source) and adjusts it as needed, "bucking" voltage spikes and surges and "boosting" voltage sags. The buck-boost UPS units cost only slightly more than regular off-line units.

"In most every case, the data stored on your computer is much more valuable than the actual computer hardware," says Guy. "There's no better way to protect all your hard work than using the right UPS for the job."