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When computer users discuss protecting their computers and files, typically the conversation turns to backup methods. While backups of your data are critical and should be done on a regular basis, it is also important to protect your equipment from becoming damaged. One of the most often overlooked sources for computer problems and equipment damage comes from inconsistent or faulty electrical connections. Studies have shown that power problems are the largest cause of data loss. Protecting your computers, printers and network equipment from electrical problems is accomplished by products ranging from a surge suppressor power strip to an uninterruptible power supply. Power strips have become common place in both work and home environments. Too often, however, these strips are purchased and used with the primary purpose of providing additional electrical outlets rather than protecting the devices that are plugged into it. First and foremost, a power strip should clearly state that it is a surge suppressor capable of protecting against electrical events such as surges and spikes. The goal of the surge suppressor is to sacrifice its own life in the case of an electrical event in order to protect your equipment. Surge suppressors require a correctly wired and grounded three-prong outlet. The surge suppressor power strip should have a method warning you if there are potentially dangerous wiring problems and if it is still providing protection to your equipment.Small lights on the power strip sometimes display this information. If you've had a surge suppressor power strip that displays a small red light when turned on but now the light is out or flickers yet the power strip still seems to work, it is a good indication that the power strip is no longer protecting your equipment. That red light that no longer works can be an indication that the surge suppressor did its job and now needs to be replaced. Even when using a surge suppressor, when the electricity goes out, your computer is violently turned off. Certainly any information you were working on wasn't saved. Serious hard drive damage can also occur depending on the activity occurring on the computer at the time of the outage. This risk is increased dramatically for a server or phone system that services many users simultaneously. To protect a server, phone system and other critical equipment, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) should be used. A UPS is a battery pack that allows your equipment to continue working through momentary outages or gives you the opportunity to shut down your system properly in the event of an extended outage. The UPS can keep your system running properly with a constant flow of electricity during surges, spikes, sags, brownouts, and complete blackouts. You may be thinking, "What happens if the power outage occurs at 3AM when I'm not there to shut off the server?" UPS systems can provide methods to automatically and properly shut down the computer before its battery pack runs out of power without human intervention. Preventing electrical problems from causing severe damage to your computers, servers and phone systems is essential for protecting your data and investment. Useful links:
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