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Do You Need A UPS?
(Page 5)
By:
Jonathan Z. Kremer
Other helpful tips.
- The battery in a UPS will last roughly 3 to 5 years. It's a good
idea to know where to purchase a new battery before it is needed.
- It can be very useful to have power management software that will
automatically shut down an unattended machine in the event of power failure.
The power management software is usually provided with the UPS, and often
comes in more than one version, to provide compatibility with the various
operating systems. Be sure that the UPS you choose has an appropriate
communication port (serial, UPS, ...etc) and comes with management software
that is compatible with your operating system.
- Check the warranty of the UPS. Usually the better quality units have a
longer warranty period.
- It's a good idea to test out your UPS every so often. A good time to do
this would be after doing your scheduled backup and maintenance. Turn off
the circuit breaker that controls the UPS to simulate a blackout, and see if
the UPS does it's job. Please note that the testing is NOT done by pulling
out the plug. Electronic equipment should always have a good ground
reference. If you unplug the UPS, it's still powered but now has what is
commonly called by electricians a "floating ground". Not only is it bad for
the electronic device, it can be dangerous too.
- Some UPS units have protection for network and telephone lines. This
extra protection can help save your computing and electronic equipment.
- Don't overload a UPS. It will not work properly when you'll need it the
most, and you will shortening it's life span.
- When a lighting storm is near, the best way to protect your
computers (and other appliances) is to unplug them from the outlets,
together with your UPS. A lightning bolt, that can melt holes in steel
and jump through kilometers of empty air, isn't going to even notice the
"surge protection" electronics in your UPS and it isn't going to be
stopped by the tiny air gap inside an on/off switch either. So to be on
the safe side, unplug everything. Don't forget to unplug the telephone,
cable, and antenna connections too.
- If possible, don't run your printer, scanner, and other such devices
off your UPS unless it is absolutely necessary. These devices will
simply add more of a load, causing you to buy a larger and more
expensive UPS. Most people really don't need a battery backup that a UPS
provides for such devices, and would be better off buying a good surge
protector instead. To learn more about surge protectors see
"The Guide to Surge Protectors".
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