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Protect your investment, use a good surge or better
yet get a UPS
(uninterruptible power supply)
What Is a Power Surge/Spike?
Surges,
spikes, and power outage…what really happens to connected devices when they
experience a power change? A lightning strike is the worst case example,
although it is just one of the problems that can strike your equipment.
Imagine
lightning has just struck a nearby power transformer. If the surge was
powerful enough, it traveled instantaneously through your house wiring (AC,
network, serial, phone lines and more) with the electrical equivalent force
of a hurricane. For Computer users, the surge could have traveled into your
computer via the coax outlet, phone line or 115 Volt AC. The first casualty
is usually a modem or motherboard. Chips go next, and BOOM !! Data is gone.
HOW ?
Spike:
Also called an impulse, a spike is an instantaneous, its a dramatic
increase in voltage. Liken to the force of a tornado, a spike can enter
electronic equipment through AC, network, serial or phone lines and damage
or completely destroy components.
CAUSES - Spikes are typically caused by
a nearby lightning strike. Spikes can also occur when utility power comes
back on line after having been knocked out in a storm or as the result of a
car accident.
Damage - Catastrophic damage to hardware
occurs. Data will be lost, equipment destroyed, work stoppage will occur.
Surge: A short term increase in voltage,
typically lasting at least 1/120 of a second.
CAUSE - Surges result from presence of
high-powered electrical motors, such as air conditioners, and household
appliances in the vicinity. When this equipment is switched off, the extra
voltage is dissipated through the power line.
Damage - Computers and similar sensitive electronic devices are
designed to receive power within a certain voltage range. Anything outside
of expected peak and RMS (considered the average voltage) levels will stress
delicate components and cause premature failure.
Protect your equipment: Did you know that your surge suppressor should have
a Joules rating of at least 1400 joules and it constantly is at work and
should be replace every year or at least every 18 months. Protection
diminishes with its continuous operation.
The
best possible protection is placing a UPS on you equipment. Most UPS's are
rated to protect against lightening strikes where as most surge suppressors
will not.
Have a
question about proper protection... ask one of your friends at MCS. They will
be glad to advise you on proper protection dependent upon your actual needs.
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