Two of the many deadly enemies of consumer electronics, especially PCs, are power surges and power outages. Aside from the obvious frustration of suddenly losing power and not being able to use your devices, serious outages caused by sudden power outages are very harsh on a device’s internal components, and a large power surge could cause lasting damage. That’s why you should take certain steps to protect your technology, from common-sense measures like unplugging before a storm to tangible improvements like uninterruptible power.
Protecting your technology from power outages involves protecting both the devices themselves and the data stored on them. If you have a PC full of important personal data plugged directly into the wall and a major power surge or outage occurs, you could end up losing that data. The same goes for devices like smart TVs or routers, and even simpler devices like kitchen gadgets could be physically damaged. Prevention is better than cure, as the old wisdom says, and you’ll be glad you took preventative measures when lightning starts striking the neighborhood.
Turn off and unplug before a storm
Before considering tangible improvements or elaborate security measures, let’s start with a little common sense. Let’s say you receive a weather alert that a major storm is fast approaching, with dark clouds in the sky and thunder rumbling in the distance. If you already know that a potential outage-causing event is on the horizon, the smartest and easiest thing you can do is simply unplug your devices before lightning strikes.
Shut down your PC completely, making sure to turn off all physical power switches and unplug it from all wall outlets. For any simpler devices like TVs or alarm clocks, simply unplug them. After unplugging your devices, move them away from their outlets for safety. Your technology can’t be damaged by outages or power surges if it’s not plugged into the wall at all. Of course, you can’t use it either, but you can just wait for the storm to pass and then plug it back in.
Back up your data
To quote an old wisdom, it’s never a bad idea to back up your vital files. In the specific case of PCs, or any other object storing data, such as game consoles, a sudden power outage could cause you to lose progress on work documents and games in the best case, or erase them completely in the worst case. That’s why, if a potential storm is brewing, forgetting to back up your files could be a critical mistake that costs you all.
If you have cloud data services, such as automatic syncing of save files to a gaming console or cloud storage like Google Drive for your PC, you need to make sure anything you can’t afford to lose is copied securely. Additionally, if you have physical storage options like a USB drive or external SSD, it wouldn’t hurt to copy essential files there as well. Using physical storage is an especially good idea during extreme weather events, as local internet service could end up being interrupted in addition to the power supply, preventing you from accessing your cloud storage.
Plug into a surge protector
If, for some reason, unplugging your devices from power is not an option, even when a potential failure is imminent, the best step is to harden them with protective hardware. The simplest defense is the classic surge protector, a power strip reinforced with protection technology that will protect against power surges. To clarify, a surge protector and a power strip are not necessarily the same thing. Although both devices turn one outlet into several, that’s the only thing a power strip does. A surge protector, on the other hand, uses several additional components to safely intercept and divert excess electrical charge from connected devices, saving them from the worst power surges and sudden outages.
Surge protectors are readily available and generally very affordable. You can find them at most major electronics retailers, online at storefronts like Amazon, or even at your local supermarket. Just make sure it’s a surge protector rather than just a power strip, usually indicated by a surge protection status light or distinctive reset button. Also, if you can, try to get a protector that provides protection against at least 2,000 joules of electricity, just in case you experience several power surges in a row.
Switch to a UPS
Although a surge protector will protect your devices from the worst effects of a power outage or surge, it will not keep your devices powered up. This can still be frustrating for important technology like your PC or internet router because you can still lose unsaved files and data, and a hard crash is still not good for these internal components. Fortunately, there’s a level up to a surge protector: uninterruptible power supply, or UPS for short.
In addition to surge-protected outlets, a UPS contains its own dedicated battery pack, which charges passively when plugged in. When a power outage occurs, the UPS automatically detects it and switches the power consumption of the outlet to its own battery, preventing all connected devices from suddenly shutting down. Battery uptime can vary from a few minutes to a few hours, but it’s more than enough to back up your files and shut down properly. Larger UPS models can also be used to keep you online or power important devices like security systems a little longer. A UPS typically costs more than a surge protector – up to several hundred dollars for high-end models – but it can be invaluable for protecting important, potentially more expensive devices.
Use multiple protectors for major devices
Typically, a UPS has only two major weaknesses. First, its battery can only support a limited number of devices at a time, with overcharging forcing it to shut down in the event of a power outage. Second, UPS batteries degrade over time and may not be able to support everything in your setup indefinitely. If you have multiple critical devices in your home that you want to protect with a UPS, plugging them all into the same UPS is not a good idea.
Instead, consider investing in a few different UPS units and plugging in your most important devices, such as your PC, Internet router, security systems, etc., separately. Not only will this increase the available load on each individual UPS, but if one fails or its battery wears out, you won’t lose access to all of your important technology at once. As with surge protectors, different models of inverters have different prices and capacities. If you have money to spare, get a larger, higher-end model for your PC, and something smaller and simpler for less power-hungry devices like routers.
