How to Use a Surge Protector
Whether you paid $500 or $5,000 for your computer, you will want to protect it from harm. Lightning and power surges ruin computer equipment each and every day.
Signs of spring are just starting to appear in my home state of North Carolina. One of the first signs always seems to be the appearance of lightning storms. Although the Carolinas rank high on lightning scale, lightning can occur anywhere in the world. When lighting strikes, it can have devastating effects on computer equipment.
When Lightning Strikes
A company called APC (American Power Conversion), which specializes in power protection components, uses a bolt of lightning in its ads. Under the lightning, the caption reads: "It's not if ... it's when."
Lightning strikes somewhere on the surface of the earth about 100 times every second. It is estimated that at any given moment nearly 2,000 thunderstorms are in progress over the earth's surface. There are at least 100,000 thunderstorms a year across the United States. Annual property loss is estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas are all high on the list when states are ranked by the amount of lightning they receive.
Lightning can send a spectacular power surge along any conductive line and can destroy everything in its path. The most likely scenario is not a direct lightning strike, but rather, a nearby strike. Lightning usually strikes a close transformer. If the surge is powerful enough, it travels instantaneously through wiring and telephone lines with the electrical force equivalent of a tidal wave. The surge travels into your computer via the outlet or telephone line. The first casualty is usually a modem or motherboard. Nevertheless, if the surge is powerful enough, the computer chips and entire mechanism can be damaged.
Power Anomalies and Surges
Power anomalies and surges also pose a big threat to computer equipment. The good old electricity that has become so necessary is actually filled with variances and fluctuations. While these fluctuations do not affect standard appliances such as lamps and toasters, they can affect sensitive, intricate equipment like computers. There are many reasons for power anomalies and surges; the electric utility companies are not solely to blame. Old interior wiring is often a culprit. Even in buildings where the wiring is perfect, many everyday appliances like microwaves, vacuum cleaners, and hair dryers can cause data-damaging interference. These power problems may not seem serious, yet a recent study by IBM showed that the average computer was susceptible to two or more power anomalies each and every day.
The Path of Protection
The way to protect your computer from lightning and power surges is to use a good surge protector. Don't be confused. A power strip, which is a simple strip of outlets, is not necessarily a surge protector. A surge protector may look like a power strip, but it has built-in protection against power surges. You will find all of the information that you need printed on the surge protector's box.
A good surge protector should offer four features.
- The surge protector should cover lightning strikes. Some do not.
- The surge protector should offer insurance to cover the loss of properly attached equipment.
- If you have a regular modem, get a surge protector with an R-11 telephone jack where you can hook up your telephone line.
- If you are using a cable modem, get a surge protector which will also accommodate your television/Internet cable.
Installing your Surge Protector
Installing your surge protector is easy. When you get your surge protector home, plug it into the wall and then plug your computer equipment into it.
Protection for your Cable/Telephone Line
If you purchase a surge protector with a telephone or cable jack, you run the telephone or cable line from the wall into the surge protector. The surge protector will come with an extra telephone or cable wire that you will then use to connect the surge protector to your computer or modem. Please don't forget to protect your telephone or cable line. Judging from my experience, many modems are lost during lightning storms. Even prudent consumers who have purchased surge protectors sometimes forget to add that extra protection for their telephone or cable line.
Try to buy a surge protector that will accommodate all of your equipment. Because of slight differences in electrical currents, it is best to plug all equipment into the same source if you can. If you have any equipment that has a large power block, look for a surge protector where the outlets are spaced farther apart to accommodate the power block.
You Get What you Pay for
When it comes to surge protection, you get what you pay for. Expect to pay $30 or more for a quality surge protector. There are many good products on the market. Two companies that have been around for quite a while are Tripp Lite and APC (American Power Conversion). I have tested good quality equipment from both of these companies.
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
When lightning strikes or the power is lost for even a few seconds, you can lose important computer data. So if you are running a business or using important data of any sort, you may want to invest in a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). These units give you surge protection and have a battery backup that allows data to be saved when the power goes out unexpectedly. If you are purchasing a UPS, look for the same qualities that you looked for in a surge protector, but also check the length of time that the battery lasts and the software that comes with the UPS.
Be sure to protect your computer with a quality surge protector. When that first storm or power surge comes, you'll have peace of mind for yourself and adequate protection for your equipment.
