Power Surge
Power Surge
Finding the Right Surge Protector for Your Computers and Gadgets
The main function of a surge protector is exactly what the name suggests: to protect electronic equipment (particularly computers) from electrical surges.
Power surges occur when an electrical current suddenly increases voltage significantly higher than the designated level. In America, the standard voltage for household wiring is 120 volts. If the voltage rises high enough above that level, the resulting electrical surge can cause considerable damage electrical equipment.
Computers are particularly vulnerable to electrical surges, simply because they have so many components that are highly sensitive to voltage extremes. Electrical surges can shorten the life of computer components, wipe your hard drive, or even destroy your entire system.
A good surge protector is a must for your computer, due to the extreme vulnerability of computer components. It's also a very good idea to use a surge protector for any other expensive electronic equipment, such as an entertainment center, as using a surge protector here will extend the life of the components.
Standard surge protectors work by sensing surges in electrical energy, and then diverting the excess electricity into the outlet's grounding wire.
Types of Surge Protector
There are three basic types of power surge protector: power strips, surge stations, and uninterruptible power supplies.
Power strips (which allow you to plug half a dozen or so electrical items into one outlet) range in price from around $5 to $25. These provide a very basic level of protection—they're generally not suitable as the sole level of protection for a computer, but usually provide plenty of protection for most inexpensive items.
Surge stations provide a good level of protection for a personal computer. They're larger than power strips but can fit underneath a computer or sit on the floor. These offer much better protection than power strips, and usually allow you to protect your modem as well. They cost anywhere from $30 to $100 or more depending on how much protection you want.
An uninterruptible power supply combines a surge protection unit with a continuous power supply. These work by converting a supply of AC electrical energy to DC, then storing the DC energy on a battery. The unit then converts that stored DC power to AC power again, providing an uninterruptible power supply that your computer can use if your power goes out. Most units give you several minutes' worth of stored energy that gives you enough time to power down your computer to protect its components from the effects of sudden power loss. You can expect to pay $150 or more for one of these.
How to Choose the Right Surge Protector
Choosing the right surge protector from these three types is simple, requiring only that you one that's suitable for the cost of the equipment you want to protect. If you're choosing a surge protector for your kitchen appliances, a cheap power strip will do the job just fine. On the other hand, if your computer needs protecting, a power strip is not enough.
The harder part is choosing the brand. Unfortunately there are many products on the market that are all but worthless, and it can be difficult to find one that will do the job.
Price is one indicator of quality for power strips, in particular. In general, if it costs less than $10-$15, chances are it's not going to provide any real protection. Here are a few more signs of quality you can look for:
- Choose a surge protector with an indicator light that is lit when the unit is working. Without this feature you have absolutely no way of knowing whether your surge protector is providing any protection.
- Check the item's Underwriters Laboratories Rating. The UL is an independent company that tests electric and electronic products. If the product in question doesn't have an UL rating, don't buy it.
- Choose an item that meets UL 1449. This is UL's minimum performance standard. Surge protectors that meet these standards are labeled as "transient voltage surge suppressors." This is important particularly for power strips, because a strip might have an UL rating for its extension cord performance, but won't have surge protection capacity unless it's actually labeled as such.
- Choose a unit with a low clamping voltage (the level at which the surge protector diverts energy)
- Look for a surge protector that provides a high energy absorption rating. Higher ratings allow the unit to absorb more electricity before failing.
- Choose a unit with a low response time (ideally less than one nanosecond). This is the delay between the power surge and the unit's response to the surge.
- Finally, look for a unit that comes with a guarantee. The best surge protectors provide a replacement guarantee for your computer, and these are a good indication that the manufacturer has a high level of confidence in their product.
About the Author
About Author:
Brain Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about products for the workplace such as Surge Protectors
Hi guys,I suddenly loss my most valuable harddrive to power surge yesterday which contain all the informatio?
Hi guys, my client suddenly loss his most valuable harddrive to power surge yesterday which contain all the information relating to the firm. I have tried to slave it but it does not come up. Please how can i retrieve the information it contained as this is very important. Mind you the HDD does not spin again. Thanks for being there.
What has been fried is, most likely, the electronics board. Find another IDENTICAL hard disk, remove it's board (just a few screws to unscrew) and put it in the broken one. If it's still dead the motors inside are also fried. In that case only a specialist company will be able to help you.
Power Surge
NFL Primetime Song 9 - Power Surge
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How To Protect Your Computer System Against a Power Surge
The spring season is in bloom. For most, it is a time of warmer temperatures and relaxation. But unfortunately, it may also mean robust storms including lightning strikes. As these tempests are now appearing on a more frequent basis, is your PC system protected? A power surge can cause a {PC|P. C. It can occur as one large surge or multiple spikes over a period of time.
For those operating servers, this might not be an option. For those that fall into this class, continue to read below. Except for most home users, powering down and unplugging is certainly an option that may be followed.
during a power surge or spike, there's excess voltage in the electrical lines above that which is ordinary. A top quality surge protector can absorb the excess voltage preventing it from damaging your system. You should compare the ratings and make certain you are getting a good quality surge protector. Powering down and unplugging the system is the sure way to guard against lightning strikes. Consider employing a UPS ( Uninterruptible Power Supply )
A UPS can protect your system from damaging power powers by permitting your system to remain running after a power blackout. This enables users to save their files and shutdown the software properly. Many high quality UPS units have the capacity to automatically power down the computer system and save any information that was uncompleted work.
Contact a tough Drive Recovery Company If Your System Has Suffered a Power Surge
A power surge may cause the read/write heads to malfunction or cause a head crash. Continuing to operate the drive may cause damage to the platters- which can in turn cause permanent information loss. A data recovery lab can replace the interior components of the hard disk and retrieve the existing information.
As the winds blow and the lightning strikes, it is important to know if your system is protected. A power surge can be desolating to your computer system and hard drive. By following the tips above, you can ensure that your computer system and data remain safe.
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About the Author
Ian Dillaway is a avid technology fanatic. He enjoys writing and blogging about technology and has an expressed interest in the HDMI Leads, and why you don't need to spend a fortune on them. why not have a look at Ian's latest article What is DisplayPort or Monster Cable Powerce
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Power Surge