[ad_1]
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) combines surge protection and battery backup in a single unit. Adding a UPS to your computer, router, or other electronic device protects them from damage and ensures uptime.
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units aren’t just for data centers and overly cautious geeks. There are many good reasons to connect your PC to one and even use them at home.
What is an uninterruptible power supply?
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is an electrical device that combines surge protection with a backup battery. The main function of the UPS is in the name: to supply power, uninterrupted, to the devices connected to the UPS.
If your UPS unit is charged, you can unplug it from the wall and all connected devices will continue to work until the battery dies, just like a laptop unplugged from its charger will run out of battery.
In addition to the main function of supplying uninterruptible power, the UPS unit also has additional features such as power smoothing, PC to UPS communication to enable graceful shutdown if you are not there with the computer to do it yourself, and additional features. Most units have split outlets so you can split the load between the devices you want to keep powered up during a power outage event and those that aren’t as important.
For example, if you have multiple monitors connected to your computer, you may choose to put the primary monitor on battery backup to extend battery runtime. You’ll drop from three monitors to one when the power goes out, but you’ll also get extra time.
Why would you want to use an uninterruptible power supply?
Many people think that the only use for UPS units is in high-demand facilities like server farms, where stability and uptime are crucial. They are certainly important in such applications, but we recommend that you do not minimize the importance of protecting your own computer and data.
UPS units protect against blackouts and surges
Problems with electrical distribution are among the leading causes of damage and failure among electronic devices. If your devices, including your computer, had their way, they would get a constant, uninterrupted power supply forever, without even shutting down.
However, it’s not particularly economical or environmentally friendly to leave all of our electronic devices on all the time just to spare them the slow havoc of turning them on and off over the course of their lives. What we can avoid them from, however, is the harsh electrical conditions that arise from a sudden loss of power and the surges that occur when power is restored to the grid.
The cost of a UPS pales in comparison to the cost of replacing an entire computer, game console, or other expensive or delicate device.
UPS units protect against dirty power and brownouts
One common thing we hear about uninterruptible power supplies is the idea that you don’t need one if you don’t have frequent power outages in your home.
At first glance, that makes sense. If the UPS is to keep the power on when the power goes out, and the power doesn’t go out very often, then you don’t need it, right? However, as a long-time UPS user, I can assure you that even if you think the power delivered to your home is perfectly stable, it is not.
I thought the power in my neighborhood was stable, but after I installed my first UPS unit, I quickly discovered that there were brownouts and other problems several times a month. Just because power isn’t completely shut off doesn’t mean fluctuations aren’t harmful to your equipment.
Unstable power may not matter much when it comes to an incandescent light bulb or space heater. But even if the power rarely goes out, we recommend getting a UPS for your computer and other sensitive devices.
UPS units prevent data loss
It’s easy to overlook data loss in an era where so many people use cloud-based file storage and online backup solutions. But just because you’re running a Backblaze client on your PC or syncing files with your Google One account doesn’t mean you’re invincible.
If your hard drive (or the entire computer) dies, you’re in for a headache. Not only are you at risk of losing data that was in the process of syncing or hasn’t synced yet, but most people also don’t actively back up all the files on their computer, or do full backups. of the system.
So if your hard drive fails, you will not only lose data that was not backed up, but you will also lose the time it will take to reinstall your operating system of choice, install all your apps, etc. (If the thought of not being able to do a full restore makes you nervous, now is the perfect time to create a full backup of your computer.)
Anything you can do to keep things smooth and stable for your PC, like using a UPS, ensures that your hard drive and any additional hardware are safe and happy.
UPS units can help you stay online
Uninterruptible power supplies aren’t just for your computer, although that’s the most common reason people buy them.
They are also quite useful for keeping other hardware in your home online during power interruption events such as blackouts and brownouts. In fact, we highly recommend getting a small UPS for your Internet modem and Wi-Fi router to help keep you online during power outages.
And again, even if you think you have stable power in your neighborhood, it’s worth investing in a small UPS for your network equipment. The same brownouts and problems that cause PC problems also cause problems for your modem and router.
If you experience frequent connection drops or other issues, you may need to ask your ISP to send you a new modem or replace your old Wi-Fi router. But it’s also possible that you just need a basic UPS to smooth out the bumps.
A UPS unit for your router and modem is also great during a power outage because it connects your phone charger to the router’s UPS. Even if the lights are out and you can’t turn on your TV, at least you’ll be online.
Frequently asked questions about uninterruptible power supplies
In addition to our arguments in favor of adding one or more UPS units to your home, let’s look at some of the most common questions people have about UPS units so you can choose the right UPS for your needs.
How much does an uninterruptible power supply cost?
You can expect to pay around $50-60 for a small basic UPS. Higher-end UPS units with more capacity and features typically cost upwards of $150 or more, and large rack-mountable UPS units are easily $300 or more.
How do you select the right size uninterruptible power supply for your needs?
When in doubt, it’s not a bad idea to size your UPS unit. More battery capacity means more runtime when you need it.
However, UPS power terminology is a bit more arcane than other computer terminology you’re probably more familiar with, so it’s worth understanding how the number of volt-amps translates to battery runtime based on the hardware that will connect to the UPS. .
Does an uninterruptible power supply system require maintenance?
You won’t need to perform frequent routine maintenance on your UPS, but for models with user-replaceable batteries, you may need to open it one or more times during the product’s life cycle.
While you can always replace the entire unit to avoid maintenance, it’s much cheaper to replace the batteries. A new UPS may cost you $150, but replacement batteries are only $40.
What kind of batteries do uninterruptible power supplies use?
Unlike the batteries in other devices in your home, like your smartphone and Bluetooth speakers, uninterruptible power supplies don’t use lithium-ion batteries. The batteries in your UPS are lead-acid batteries, just like your car battery.
Are uninterruptible power supply batteries dangerous?
Uninterruptible power supply batteries are not hazardous in the sense that lithium-ion batteries are. When they fail, they simply stop holding a charge, and there’s no risk of the more dramatic and explosive failures lithium-ion batteries are known for.
They do contain lead and acid, but use a sealed lead-acid design, and unless you bring a drill or handsaw to the battery box, they are safe to handle.
Are batteries from uninterruptible power supplies recyclable?
Yes, sealed lead-acid batteries are recyclable. Many large hardware stores, such as Lowes and Home Depot, will accept small sealed lead-acid batteries for recycling, as will most municipal hazardous materials disposal facilities. You can also use Call2Recycle to locate a local recycler.
Can I connect a power strip to an uninterruptible power supply?
You can plug a power strip or cable splitter into the outlets of a UPS as long as you do not exceed the power rating of the outlet with the devices.
For example, if you had a handful of small, low-voltage devices in your home office that you wanted to keep powered up during an outage, but you’d already used all but one of the battery-powered power ports on your UPS, plugging in a power strip or a cord splitter to plug multiple devices into that one outlet.
[ad_2]
