Power Protection

Power protection facts:

• Is not glamorous
• It is often forgotten and neglected
• Is essential for even decent computing
• Power is the raw food feeding computers
• Protection is not provided by the utility company

While power protection is not "cool" evidence shows that power problems account for up to 75% of all computer problems (before Windows 95/98/2000/XP/etc).

Power protection is a good investment:

• Products are not obsolete for 5-10 years
• Protection works with old and new computers
• Buy high quality protection - its worth it!

Power Protection Myths:

Myth #1:
My computer is okay - I have a "surge protector".

Facts:
Often, one thinks their computer gear is plugged into a surge protector when actually it is plugged into a basic power strip.

The fact that the power strip is physically there does provide some protection but not much. Certainly not enough to protect your computers from power surges and spikes.

If your computer is plugged into a high-quality surge protector that has ethernet and/or phone line protection and if you also have printers, etc. plugged into a high-quality surge protector, your computer is probably okay.

The best test is to look on the bottom or back of the device your computer is directly plugged into. If it has any surge protection ability, it will say so in writing.

Myth #2:
My power strip says it has surge suppression so my computer is adequately protected.

Facts:
The surge suppression ability of a surge protector is measured in joules.

Inexpensive surge protectors (less than $20.00) usually have a rating of less than 500 joules - not enough to protect your computer from even minor surges and spikes.

Units rated between 500-1000 joules are better. Units rated over 1000 joules should be adequate. The higher the joule rating, the higher the level of protection and the higher the price tag.

Myth #3:
I turn off my computer during power storms to protect it from power problems.

Facts:
If your computer is plugged in, it is not protected from power problems.

The only way to completely protect your computer equipment from power problems is to completely unplug everything from the wall including phone lines and broadband connections.

The next best protection is using a high-quality surge protector with Ethernet and/or phone line protection.

Myth #4:
The biggest power problems are lightning strikes and blackouts.

Facts:
Your computer is subject to:

• sags
• spikes
• under-voltage
• over-voltage
• brownouts
• blackouts
• lightning strikes.

All of these power problems threaten and can destroy components making costly repairs necessary.

More importantly, they can also destroy your data which can be much harder and more expensive to replace.

Myth #5
If I unplug my computer from the wall, my computer is protected from power problems.

Facts:
Power problems often come through the power cord to the computer. But they can also find their way into your system through telephone lines, broadband connections, printer, scanner, USB and other cables too.

For professional power protection solutions, contact us.