Power outages are something we all dread, whether they are as a result of thunderstorms, load shedding, an unstable power grid or any other reason. No access to appliances, heating and cooling or lighting systems can pose a major inconvenience. However, in today’s world loss of power has a further consequence – the loss of connectivity, which can effectively cut us off from the rest of the world, even if it is only for a short period of time, say Elrica Quick, APC Product Specialist at DCC.
In addition, data loss as a result of corruption resulting from unstable power is a real concern, particularly in a connected world where much of our lives is housed in digital storage. Protecting our digital technology, including our connectivity solutions, from the consequences of power outages is becoming increasingly important.
An uninterrupted power supply (UPS) can ensure the availability of network connectivity even when the power is out, so users stay in touch and connected to all of their online technology at all times.
In today’s world many consumers depend on connectivity in the home, whether they need to access information hosted in cloud services like Dropbox or OneDrive, communicate via social media platforms, or even search for a recipe online. In addition, an increasing number of other appliances are beginning to rely on connectivity, from home entertainment to security systems like CCTV.
None of these systems are typically available during a power failure because of a lack of connectivity, and the consequences range from slight inconvenience in the case of social networking availability, to potentially disastrous in the case of security solutions.
Providing continuous connectivity for an ever-increasing range of IP-based devices requires that modems and Wi-Fi routers remain operational even when the power fails, and are protected from the effects of unstable power, such as surges and dips, as well as lightning strikes. Fortunately, solutions are both available and affordable, which cater perfectly to the needs of the connected home user. An entry-level backup UPS will ensure the availability of the network in the event of a power failure, as well as other essential devices.
These solutions offer guaranteed power protection for modems and routers as well as PCs, notebooks, external storage devices, gaming consoles and other electronics in homes and small businesses. The Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) will level out dips and spikes in the power.
This helps to prolong the lifespan of equipment and protects any data stored on them from corruption. In addition, a backup UPS will offer backup power for connected devices during a power outage. The exact amount of time varies, depending on the number and type of devices connected, but users may be able to get through short power failures with minimum disruption to normal life.
When looking to purchase a UPS for home usage that will protect connectivity and ensure network availability as well as offer the protection required for sensitive and expensive technology, there are several characteristics that users should be aware of. A UPS should have surge protected outlets to ensure protection of hardware and data during power outages, surges and spikes.
Surge-only outlets are another feature to look out for, as these will protect secondary electronics from surges and spikes without reducing battery power used to run primary electronics during an outage. Battery failure notification will provide an early warning on batteries, to ensure preventative maintenance can be carried out before the UPS fails. In addition, a resettable circuit breaker will enable users to easily recover from overloads.
When it comes to electronics and connectivity in the home, it pays to protect this often expensive investment from power problems. By using a backup UPS, home and small business consumers can take advantage of continued connectivity during power failures, while at the same time ensuring that all connected equipment is safeguarded from the dangerous effects of unstable power supply.
