Problem:
Sag
What is it?
A short-term decrease in voltage levels
Why is it a problem?
A sag can cause damage to your electronic equipment. Your computer system is especially sensitive to this problem.
Typical product protection solution:
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Problem:
Surge
What is it?
A sudden dramatic increase in voltage
Why is it a problem?
Some transients can cause major damage to electronic equipment or computer data and can also interfere with radio/TV/communications equipment.
Typical product protection solution:
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Problem:
Swell
What is it?
A short-term increase in voltage
Why is it a problem?
A swell can lead to stressed or damaged electronic components, which cause premature equipment failure.
Typical product protection solution:
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Problem:
Power outage
What is it?
A total loss of power, which can last anywhere from fractions of a second to hours
Why is it a problem?
If you are using your computer when an interruption happens, you’ll lose all data stored in your computer’s short-term memory (RAM).
Typical product protection solution:
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Problem:
Electrical Noise
What is it?
Additional signals riding on the power line that can interfere with the operation of equipment
Why is it a problem?
On your computer, electrical noise can introduce glitches and errors into programs and data files or cause printer errors.
Typical product protection solution:
Power Line Filter
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Check Wiring and Grounding:
Proper wiring and grounding are essential for the smooth operation of sensitive electronic equipment. Check your electronic equipment for loose or damaged plugs and connections and repair or replace them. If a piece of equipment has operating problems, check to see if it is plugged into a grounded outlet.
A ground is often needed to meet safety standards because some electronic equipment could otherwise be shock hazards. If your outlet does not have a ground, a licensed electrician should upgrade it.
Move/Install your sensitive electronic equipment to/on a dedicated circuit:
Avoid putting sensitive devices (firewalls, routers, ethernet switches, pc’s, servers, printers, telephone systems, etc.) on the same circuit as HVAC, A/C, lunchroom appliances, shared circuits, etc.
Install a surge protector:
Using a surge protector is one inexpensive way to protect equipment from power fluctuations. It protects equipment by rerouting excess energy from temporary over-voltages. However, this device will not eliminate power fluctuations.
You can find surge protectors at almost any store that sells electronic equipment. Make sure you’re getting a surge protector, NOT just a power strip. Though they look very similar, power strips only offer multiple electrical outlets, not surge protection.
What to look for when buying a plug-in surge protector;
UL TVSS 1449 rating – a certification label from an independent test lab such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories) or ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories) on the package. Products with this certification label meet current industry safety standards.
ANSI/IEEE C62.41, Category A (for higher exposure environments, use Category B) – The maximum amount of voltage that will reach your equipment as a result of having it connected to a surge protector.
UL 330 voltage rating – This performance standard ensures that power disturbances are recognized and routed away from your equipment instantaneously, providing effective protection and keeping your equipment safe from damage.
Catastrophic event protection for safety – a fast-acting fuse that reacts quickly and shuts down your system in the event of a dangerous wiring problem.
Site-wiring fault indicator – indicates there may be a problem with the wiring of the outlet.
Protection working indicator – lets you know that the surge protector is working as intended.
Connection lines for phone lines, television cables and other data communication lines.
Line-noise filters – otherwise this noise could disrupt your equipment’s performance.
A lifetime product warranty and insurance coverage on connected equipment.
Add an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS):
A battery back-up system, also known as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), is designed to immediately switch your sensitive electronic equipment to emergency back-up power to allow you to work through brief power outages without losing data or experiencing downtime. A UPS also provides protection from voltage sags.
What to look for when buying a UPS;
A UL 1778 rating
The number and type of outlets you need
Run-time – the bigger the VA (volt amps), the longer the run-time
Length of battery life, battery replacement cost and availability
Site-wiring fault indicator – indicates there may be a problem with the wiring of the outlet
We recommend APC by Schneider Electric
http://www.apc.com/site/apc/index.cfm?ISOCountryCode=us