One of the most common causes of hardware failure in a PC is power fluctuation. This is one of the most often overlooked areas of PC stability. Cumulative damage from these changes in power can result in crashed hard drives, fried processors and a host of other maladies that can easily be avoided.
Many consumer grade UPS systems offer basic protection for your machine but many are weak sources of controlling power fluctuations. Some consumer grade UPS systems offer automatic voltage regulation (AVR) but they can be an expensive options and are often not available at your local retail outlet. Couple this with the disposable nature of most consumer grade UPS’s and in time you can spend a considerable amount of money keeping your power clean.
Another solution is to buy a good voltage regulator to use in line with your standard UPS. The best bang for the buck on the market today may be the Opti UPS SS1200. At around $20 street cost this little monster can save you a bundle in damaged components. Not only will the SS1200 handle power spikes quite well but is an excellent solution for dealing with brown-out conditions. I have used one of these for over a year and have had excellent results.
So, if you notice your lights dim the next time your AC kicks on, it might be a good time to invest in an AVR solution. If you don’t want to spend a bundle the SS1200 might be for you.
Until next time, happy blogging.
Megadisclaimer: Take nothing at face value. Everything on this blog is for entertainment purposes. It won’t change the world, or even your opinion in most cases. If you believe everything that you read stop reading now!