Florida – Lightning Capital of the World
Every summer, millions of dollars in damage is done to Florida businesses by way of thunderstorms and the lightning they bring with them. These storms are also the main cause of brownouts, blackouts, power surges, sags and spikes, all of which wreak havoc with electronic equipment.
Although nothing can be done to protect equipment from a direct lightning hit, several measures can be taken to protect delicate electronics in the office from the many other sources of damage.
The cheapest, most efficient way to prevent damage is to invest in surge protectors for electronic equipment. These units come in many different sizes, shapes and styles from a variety of manufacturers. A surge protector can be purchased for as little as $9.95, but not all are created equal. The single most important factor in effective surge suppression is the voltage that’s allowed through the unit before it does its job, also known as the “clamping” voltage threshold.
Delicate electronics can be damaged by as little as 200 volts, (plugged into a 120 Volt outlet) yet many surge protectors do not clamp incoming voltage till 300 or more volts are present. This allows damage to occur to the substrate of sensitive integrated circuits which all computer equipment is full of. This damage may not be immediately apparent, but will eventually cripple or kill the device entirely. Additionally, reading or writing information to the hard drive at the time of a surge can corrupt data and/or programs. Professional grade surge suppressors clamp well below the 200 volt level and are specifically designed for computer equipment. A high-grade surge suppressor will also offer a guarantee for the equipment plugged into them. The unit should also employ a resettable circuit breaker and power switch to disconnect the power source. Professional grade units can cost less than a replacement power supply for a P/C or a single service call for repair.
On the other end of the spectrum are brownouts and blackouts. These are drops in voltage that may be momentary or sustained. Either way, these are typically followed by a surge or spike (well above the normal 120 volts) when power is resumed. When incoming power dips below 95 volts, P/C power supplies shut down, immediately disabling the entire system. Whatever process is occurring at the time, is cut off without completion, usually leaving data corruption (at very least) in its wake. We’ve all had the pleasure of running a scandisk repeatedly, or having to restore data files or programs. It’s a tedious, time consuming process that is better avoided. Now, if the drop in electricity doesn't get you, the surge or spike that follows will. Double jeopardy.
To protect against drops in voltage, a Standby Power Supply (SPS) is recommended. These units sit quietly under your desk and monitor incoming power. Whenever voltage dips below 105 VAC, the unit immediately switches to battery power, allowing the system to continue running. SPS’s are rated in Volt/Amps (VA) and the appropriate size should be chosen for the system it is to be attached to. A typical P/C with a 15” monitor will run for approx. 15 to 20 minutes on a 600VA unit. LCD monitors require less power so “up time” would be increased. SPS’s can be purchased with surge protection built in to protect against all voltage anomalies. (Just make sure they measure up to the stats above)
Although P/C’s are becoming cheaper and faster, repairs are not. No manufacturer will cover electrical damage and being without a vital piece of equipment during repair is usually a major inconvenience to the entire office.
The adage “an ounce of prevention........really applies here.
Mark R. Wade
President
International Computer Maintenance
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