Uninterruptible
Power SupplyUninterruptible
Power Supply
UPS doesn’t just mean “those big brown trucks.” In
the high-tech world, UPS means Uninterruptible Power Supply. And blackdog is
here to tell you that if you have any kind of expensive electronic equipment,
especially your computer, you need a UPS. TrippLite makes what I consider to be
the best such products on the shelf, hands down. Most major security
installations have TrippLite UPS systems. Of course, those are much larger than
what you and I need, but let’s talk about what the personal PC and other
electronics user might want.
My preferred model is the TrippLite
InternetOffice300, available online for $77 at www.tripplite.com.
It has 6 outlets, which should cover most or all your computer equipment. [They
have a larger model with 8 outlets.] Half the outlets are in the battery and
surge protected side, half are in the surge protected only side. The outlets
that provide both battery and surge protection are for your monitor, computer
and perhaps one other key piece of equipment. I put the cable modem in the third
outlet. The surge protected only outlets are for your printer (which cannot be
plugged into the battery protected side), speakers and whatever other equipment
you have. There also are two phone jacks for a phone and fax line; they give you
the same surge protection.
That all said, what does this little black box actually do
for you? Let me use my system as a perfect example. It sits on the floor under
my computer table, and all my equipment is plugged into it. The surge protector
then is plugged into the wall outlet. This really does three things. First,
there are always minor power surges and glitches that you will never experience
with a UPS. Second, if you have a temporary power outage (e.g., often in hot
weather with many air conditioners turned on you might get a brownout), the UPS
will keep your equipment running until the power is back at full strength (up to
4 minutes). If your power goes out completely, you have ample time to save your
work and shut your computer down.
Third, and absolutely most important, if you have a
dramatic power surge, it will destroy your UPS but save your computer system.
This happened recently in the blackdog house. A huge transformer on the utility
pole at the back of my yard exploded (it was quite the mess), and knocked out
all the power for some time, then came back at half power. That explosion fried
my UPS, but it saved my computer. A call the next morning to TrippLite resulted
in their e-mailing me a form to complete. Once completed, it was faxed back to
them and a new UPS is being shipped to me. The replacement cost for the
InternetOffice300 is only $51.30, and you do not have to return the old unit.
That is just far, far better than replacing an entire computer system for about
$2,000. In addition, TrippLite guarantees your system components if their unit
fails to protect you.
This is the second time TrippLite has saved my computer system. Both times that poor little black box gave up its life to protect my computer. I have a second upscale power surge protector from TrippLite, an Isotel Ultra Power Surge Protector. I don’t know if they still make this model, but they have similar products. I use that in my entertainment center, and it works the same way, except it has no battery backup, but that’s not important there.
Those of you who think those $19.95 power surge protectors
you can buy in any hardware store will truly do the job for you, think again.
They offer very little protection. Even worse, if you take a huge power spike
hit and fry your computer, there’s no one to help you out other than your
homeowner’s insurance, and that will result in higher premiums.
From first-hand experience, buy a TrippLite and breathe easier. It’s worth every penny you invest. To spend $2,000 or more on an upscale computer system and not have it protected is just not a good idea. Visit tripplite.com today, and invest in some very practical computer security.
Blackdog 