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Taking Care of Your System
Taking Care of Your System
Taking Care of Your System
Taking Care of Your System
System Care
Your system is a durable, dependable computer built for heavy use. With protective measures and proper
care, you can prevent problems and promote the successful operation and long life-span of your computer.
Protecting Your System From Power Outages
Fortunately, there are tools that can help when power supply is interrupted. Basically there are two types of
protection against power problems, a passive form such as those provided by surge suppressors and a
multi-featured back-up power source like the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).
•
Surge Suppressors
- although computers are equipped with some surge protection, it is wise to acquire
a separate surge suppressor for added protection. A surge suppressor protects power supplies and
communication lines from electrical surges but does not offer a back-up power source. While some
suppressors have a manual on-off switch, other types combine switched and unswitched circuits. A mix
of switched and unswitched circuits can be a useful feature since you can keep, for instance, a battery
charging while shutting off the power for other equipment.
•
Back-UPS units
- equipped with a battery to maintain power during outages, the UPS allows users to
save data and properly shut down the computer. Most UPS also include surge protection as a feature.
There are two basic UPS types, the standby power supply (the least expensive choice) and the multi-
featured on-line UPS systems.
Below are tips on power protection and some hardware features to consider before buying these
devices:
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Be sure to unplug your PC, including the line to the modem, during lightning storms.
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Always use a proper power cord to plug your system to the line power. When using an extension cord
make sure it is a reliable cord.
•
Look into the energy absorption features. Surge suppressors are rated by the amount of energy they can
absorb, which is measured in joules. The higher the surge ratings the better the unit. Experts say around
200 joules is basic protection, 400 joules provide good protection and 600 joules or more is far better.
•
Check if a surge suppressor has a circuit breaker or fuse. Many suppressors are equipped with either a
circuit breaker or fuse that will blow or trip in case of a short circuit and severe surges. Compared to
fuses, circuit breakers are preferred because fuses have to be replaced when damaged by a short
circuit.
Protecting Your System From Damage
There are several ways in which you can protect your computer from possible damage. We strongly
recommend the following protective measures:
•
Connect a Back-UPS unit (see
“Protecting Your System From Power Outages”
above) between your
computer and the grounded wall outlet. A Back-UPS unit protects your system from sudden transient
increases and decreases in electrical power.
•
Be sure to connect all peripherals, such as your monitor and printer, to the Back-UPS unit that should be
the only device that you plug into the wall outlet.
•
Avoid repeated power-on cycles. These subject the system components to temperature variations and
stress.
•
Disconnect your system from telephone, LAN and power lines when an electrical storm threatens. If you
have a fax/modem, lightning can travel in on the phone line and can damage both the fax/modem and
the system unit. Lightning can also travel in on power lines and damage your monitor and system unit.
Note
Please note that the product warranty does not apply if damage to your computer is the result of a lightning
strike.
