best budget surge and battery backup for computer

The higher the joule rating, the longer the varsistor (and therefore the device) should last. Surges happen more often than you might think, and every time a surge happens, part of the varsistor is burned out. This joule rating gives you a sense of how long the device can protect against surges and spikes. For computer systems, 1,000 joules or more is recommended. Surge protectors are usually rated in joules, which are a way to measure energy, and in essence, the more joules the better. To protect against surges and spikes, use a surge protector! The word varsistor is a blend of the two terms variable resistor. Most power strips that you find in an office supply store or home improvement store have surge protection capability. Surge ProtectorsĪ surge protector or surge suppressor is a power strip that also incorporates a metal-oxide varsistor (MOV) to protect against surges and spikes. (Keep in mind that these are estimates.) So on a standard 15-amp circuit, it would be wise to have no more than three computers and three monitors running simultaneously. For example, at AC (wall-outlet level) a typical computer would draw 2 to 3 amps and perhaps another 2 amps for the monitor maximum. By the way, you can also calculate the amount of computers and monitors that can connect to a circuit by their amperage rating. To find this out, a qualified electrician can use a circuit testing tool and locate all the outlets on the circuit in question, or this information might be included in your building's electrical diagram. This calls into question whether any other AC outlets connect to the same circuit. As a rule of thumb, no more than four or five computers (and monitors) should use the same power strip and, therefore, the same circuit. Overloads occur because the power strip tries to pull too much current (amps) from the wall outlet, or when too much current is supplied to the power strip. If an overload occurs, the circuit breaker trips, cutting power, and the device can usually be reset by pressing a black button normally located somewhere near the power button. If they don't have surge protection capabilities, they cannot protect from any of the electrical issues (surges and spikes) listed in the previous section.Ī power strip has a master on/off switch and usually has a 15-amp circuit breaker to prevent overloading.

Power strips might not have surge protection functionality. This concept applies to other devices in this section including surge protectors and UPSs. Add the total for all devices connected to the power strip, and remember not to exceed the maximum rating. You can check the wattage rating on the back or side of most devices. A monitor might use between 35 watts and 100 watts depending on the type of monitor. Interesting, a computer might have a 300-watt power supply, but on the average, it might use only 100 watts of that power while running. Due to this, a maximum wattage rating can be applied to the device, for example, 3,000 watts is a decent amount. It enables for multiple devices to share a single receptacle in that outlet. Power StripsĪ power strip is a group of sockets, usually in-line, with a flexible cable that plugs into an AC outlet. Some devices have specific purposes, and others can protect against more than one of these electrical issues. In the New York area, it is common to have an increased amount of tech support calls during July this is attributed to lightning storms! Quite often this is due to improper protection. Another problem associated with blackouts is the spike that can occur when power is restored. During a brownout the voltage drops to such an extent that it typically causes the lights to dim and causes computers to shut off.Ī blackout is when a total loss of power for a prolonged period occurs. However, when voltage reduces further, a brownout could ensue. Typically, sags are limited in time and in the decrease in voltage. A spike is a short transient in voltage that can be due to a short circuit, tripped circuit breaker, power outage, or lightning strike.Ī sag is an unexpected decrease in the amount of voltage provided. This can be a small increase or a larger increase known as a spike. You need to protect against several things:Ī surge in electrical power means that there is an unexpected increase in the amount of voltage provided. Utilizing proper power devices is part of a good preventative maintenance plan and helps to protect a computer.

Best budget surge and battery backup for computer