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May 01, 2006
Brownouts, Blackouts, and Power Surges
With the power often going on and off in Big Sky, it is important to protect your computer against various types of power interruptions. The three types: brownouts, blackout and power surges, can all damage your computer, but can be prevented with certain precautions or equipment.
A brownout is when the electricity supplied by the power company is less than normal, which can cause damage to a computer when it is not connected to a backup power supply. Brownouts can fry your computer's circuits and keep it from running properly. Most often the damage done during a brownout to your computer is irreparable. You might boot up your computer after a brownout and find that for seemingly no reason, the computer is “acting funny.”
A power surge is when the received electric power is more than normal. Of course, a blackout is when no power is received. A power surge, or spike, can also damage your computer in the same fashion as a brownout, but a blackout does not harm your computer in the same way. A blackout will only keep you from saving your files if you are in the middle of work and keep your computer from being shut down properly.
You can take simple steps to avoid damage to your computer. A good surge protector is a must, but be warned that while most cheap surge protector strips will indeed protect your computer from a power surge, they will not protect from a brownout, much less a blackout. I found one online for about $35. Just search for “Brownout Protection.”
A more comprehensive and expensive solution is to buy an uninterruptible power supply, or UPS. Most (but not all) of these devices will have power surge and brownout (also called line conditioning) protection. If the power goes down while you are working on your computer, the UPS will supply five minutes to several hours (depending on the model) of auxiliary power so you can continue to work uninterrupted. Similarly, when you experience the next brownout, you can rest assured knowing that your computer is safe. Depending on how long you want your computer to run during a blackout, plan on spending between $100 and $250. Most of us only need a few minutes to save the files we are working on and shut down the computer. Rarely does our power go down for several hours, but if it does and it is critical that you be able to use your computer, spend the extra money on a UPS with hours of backup power.
Another simple method to help protect your computer is to turn it off and unplug it when it is not in use. Many people prefer to let their computers run all day and night, regardless of use. I advise against this for several reasons, including more wear and tear on your computer, security risks, and power problems such as brownouts and power surges. Certainly this is more of a hassle with a desktop instead of a laptop, which is why I recommend purchasing a UPS. You have made an investment in purchasing a computer, so protect it. Besides, replacing damaged parts will likely end up costing you more money anyway.
