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Power outages, power spikes, and brownouts are all power issues that you may encounter with your computer system. Investigating the circumstances of power failure and how to respond effectively are important parts of computer maintenance. The data held within your computer is valuable and the electronic format may be the only source for the information. Protect your computer and the data held within it by preparing yourself for potential power issues.

Power Outages

You often cannot plan for a power outage or blackout. There is not always a warning beforehand, such as a phone call notification of an area outage. Fierce winds outside, for example, may take down power lines and cause power outages. Short circuits and power station issues also cause loss of electrical power.

If you are using your computer at the time of the outage, your settings may not be saved. Any data imputed into software programs such as MS Word or Excel after your last save of the document is likely lost. You may lose data as well if you are transferring information to disc at the time of the outage.

If your computer is not in use when the power outage occurs, the situation is similar to turning off the computer’s power button. No harm is likely done to the equipment. Upon next log on, you may be prompted to select 'safe' or 'normal' mode to run your computer as the system detects improper activity.

Brownouts

Brownouts are a type of power issue for computers and are also known as voltage sags. The power supply to the computer system is lower than the demand required to properly power the equipment. The lowered voltage often causes computers to shut down or malfunction.

Brownouts may cause worse damage to computer data than blackouts if the computer remains running rather than being shut down entirely. Stress is put onto computer wires and transistors due to the reduction in power being drawn from the wall. While data may still be accessed during brownouts, the processing speed is often significantly reduced. The voltage sags may be caused by damage to electrical wires.

Installing a UPS or uninterruptable power supply is a great way to protect your data against brownouts and surprise power outages. The system keeps your computer up for a few extra minutes while you save active data. You can then safely shut down equipment without harm to the devices or loss of data. The UPS is often used as a battery backup system for a PC. Many systems also include surge protection.

Power Spikes

Power surges or power spikes are rare but do occur to computer systems. The spikes are sudden increases in voltage and often occur following brownouts. A power surge may occur, for example, from a lightning strike in close proximity to the building that houses your computer system.

Power surge protectors on PCs help protect your data against power surges. Without protection, power spikes may mean you need to rebuild or replace fuses and circuits; the process is expensive and takes time away from working hours for businesses. Use surge protectors to plug in all parts of your computer, such as the monitor, central processing unit (CPU), speakers, modem, and printer.

It is an expensive ordeal to replace ruined equipment following a power failure. Issues with power can result in failure of devices and lost data. Safeguard your computer system and the valuable data it contains by using a surge protector and installing a UPS. By being aware of the circumstances under which power failures occur and the possible repercussions, you are able to plan effective ways to protect your data from being distorted or lost.

References:

www.portlandgeneral.com/safety_outages/surge_protection/understanding_surges_spikes.aspx

today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41430216/ns/today-today_tech/t/how-choose-good-surge-protector/#.T2z-KDFunrc

www.fastcompany.com/magazine/09/dirty.html

www.smps.us/uninterruptible-power-supply.html

Photo Source:

Stock.xchng www.sxc.hu/photo/1072486 Pawel Kryj