Wondering if someone could recommend any decent battery backups or surge protectors they use to protect equipment, mainly desktops from sudden power loss or electrical surges. Had a few issues recently after a storm.
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Any inexpensive battery backups or surge protectors for desktop?
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The best solution for that is to use an UPS. Buy one that has enough battery backup capacity that will allow an orderly shutdown or automatic shutdown of your desktop in the event of a power loss. Amazon, B&H Photo, and many other on line suppliers sell good quality UPS units. Expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $200 for a good quality UPS that produces sine wave power. Surge protectors can be used but do not provide the same protection as a good quality UPS.
The circuit board in a UPS can also be damaged by a surge in the main, and it will continue to provide pass-through power as long as the power is available. But when the power goes, all of a sudden you have no back-up power and your computers shut down immediately. The UPS "brain" is dead and won't switch over to the battery. I discovered this the hard way via years of experience maintaining a company network installation. As a result, I always plug a good quality surge protector into the wall first, and then plug the UPS into that. This helps protect the UPS from dying, unknown to you until it is too late. Yes, most UPSs also provide surge protection, but that is for the devices plugged into them. You need something to protect the UPS circuit board "brain" as well. Decent network grade surge protectors can be had (APC brand) for $25-$30. Well worth it. For most surges, these are adequate.
If a power outage caused equipment damage, then power off also causes that damage.
If a power outage causes damage, then one can cite the 'at risk' part. Nobody will. No part is damaged by an outage. The fear is created only by myths.
Motorized appliances are at risk during low voltage. Voltage can drop so low that incandescent bulbs dim to 50% intensity. Even a voltage that low is ideal for all electronics. Internal voltages must not vary by even 0.2 volts when bulbs dim that much. Protection already inside electronics is that robust.
How often does your voltage drop that much? Never? Exactly. Because a utility must maintain voltage to protect less robust motorized appliances. Or completely cut off power.
A surge is a voltage rising maybe to well over 1000 volts. How does a surge have anything in common with an outage? How does anything designed to provide power during an outage also 'block' or 'absorb' a surge? It doesn't. Anyone can read those specification numbers. Nobody will post them. Because a UPS does not claim effective surge protection. Because an outage does not damage any appliance. And a plug-in protector is incapable of doing effective protection provided by just one properly earthed 'whole house' protector - for about $1 per protected appliance.
As has been suggested above, a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) is what you need. Where I'm at everyone with a desktop computer uses a UPS..... power cuts, surges and fluctuating voltage is the norm. There are a variety of brands UPS, which have various features that may or may not be useful where you are. Where I am, AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation) is worth having.
The APC (American Power Company) brand is a little more expensive than some, but is good quality and available in many countries. They were out of stock last time I was shopping for a UPS, about 10 years ago, so I got the Ablerex brand, from Singapore. For my computer set-up (Mac Mini and 22 inch LED monitor) it provides about 25 minutes of back-up power.
Batteries last a couple or three years. My Ablerex is on it's fourth battery, which will probably be its last. The technician said there was a bit of corrosion starting inside last time, so a new UPS will be on the shopping list when the battery fails again.
Where I am a basic UPS can be had for less than 2,000 baht / $US 60.00, The APC brand starts at about $70. Replacement batteries start at about $16.00, and go up depending on size / capacity. Prices in North America and Europe will probably be a bit higher.
My first UPS didn't have AVR, which I reckon contributed to the early demise of the power supply for my first Mac Mini (the 2005 original) after about four years. Voltage fluctuated widely in my apartment, which was at the end of an electricity supply line. Some evenings there was not enough power to kick the fluorescent tubes into action! Since then the mains supply to the neighbourhood has been upgraded, so no such problem now.
That UPS was fried by a huge surge that resulted in a power cut to millions in many of Thailand's southern provinces. I have since installed an earth stake and wired it to three pin sockets in my apartment. Having the system grounded is safer, and the surge protector deals better with excess current.
All in all, my electric power supply is much improved now, and my second Mac Mini (early 2009, which I am using now) has run without a problem, mostly 24/7, for more than nine years. We still do have power cuts quite frequently, every month or two.
If you don't want to go the UPS route you can buy extension cords or plugs with surge protection built in, but there is, of course, no battery back-up.
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How often do incandescent bulbs dim to less than 50% intensity? Never. Then voltage is always ideal for all electronics.
Anyone can read specification numbers. Most only use observation combined with wild speculation to make junk science conclusions. Because spec numbers are ignored.
For example, a laptop is perfectly happy on any AC voltage from 85 to 265 volts. And DC voltages will not vary even by 0.2 volts. Because best AVR is always inside all electronics.
But emotions, myths, lies, and other misinformation gets so many to fear what does not exist. Since that generates massive profits.
Only appliances that need that AVR are motorized appliances. How many motorized appliances have died due to voltage variations? Any conclusion only from observation and wild speculation is why junk science is alive and well.
Did I mention incandescent bulbs in my post?
Was the OP talking about mainly laptop computers?
Did the OP say that electrical surges were the only problem?
Have you lived in a place where the electric power supply is unstable and unreliable?
I guess little useful knowledge, muddled thinking and conspiracy theories are alive and well.
What incandescent bulbs do, what all computers do, electrical surges, and the mythical unstable power (that destroys motorized appliances if it exists) are all relevant to the OP's post. Rather than argue the irrelevant, learn why all that stuff applies to you. Reread a post that you clearly did not comprehend. Try learning before going off to argue.
Your damage is traceable to so much you did not know. If a PSU was destroyed by unstable power, then all motorized appliances failed first. Motorized appliances need AVR. Electronics already have robust AVR. But unknown to many who are educated by hearsay and advertising.
Move on. Learn how electricity really works. Watch incandescent bulbs to learn your conclusions were wild speculation. Learn how little you really knew by watching incandescent bulbs. AVR is hooey easily promoted to consumers who know but forget to first learn - even from incandescent bulbs.
UPS does nothing to protect hardware. It does not claim to. It has no functions that do so. And it must be protected. Surge protectors adjacent to appliances (or UPS) can even make damage easier. OP should learn of and properly earth something completely different (called a surge protector) to increase appliance protection from storms. That begins by understanding what actually does appliance protection. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Essential for protecting household appliances from unstable power. And does not exist if a 'whole house' protector is not properly installed.
Your damage is traceable to so much you did not know. If a PSU was destroyed by unstable power, then all motorized appliances failed first. Motorized appliances need AVR. Electronics already have robust AVR. But unknown to many who are educated by hearsay and advertising.
Move on. Learn how electricity really works. Watch incandescent bulbs to learn your conclusions were wild speculation. Learn how little you really knew by watching incandescent bulbs. AVR is hooey easily promoted to consumers who know but forget to first learn - even from incandescent bulbs.
UPS does nothing to protect hardware. It does not claim to. It has no functions that do so. And it must be protected. Surge protectors adjacent to appliances (or UPS) can even make damage easier. OP should learn of and properly earth something completely different (called a surge protector) to increase appliance protection from storms. That begins by understanding what actually does appliance protection. A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Essential for protecting household appliances from unstable power. And does not exist if a 'whole house' protector is not properly installed.
Gobbledegook that provides little illumination.
What is the main purpose of an Uninterruptible Power Supply?
Why do people use a UPS in areas where the mains electric supply is unstable and unreliable?
Did I ground the sockets to which my UPS with surge protection is connected?
What is the OP's query about?
My comment about AVR was incidental, but possibly relevant. It was neither the topic of my post, nor the OP's.
However, because of the widely fluctuating and often very low voltage of the mains power supplied to my apartment at the time the Mac Mini's power supply brick would have been working hard.... which may, or may not, have contributes to the relatively early demise of a part that seldom is much of a problem. With the improvements since, that I outlined, I have not had a problem with the desktop computer I have now, my second Mac Mini (early 2009 model), which has been running almost 24/7 for more than nine years.
AVR on the UPS I have now may or may not be of benefit, but it is a feature that was not on the first UPS I had..... the one that was fried by the power surge described. I was looking for a UPS, not AVR..... that came with the UPS I bought.
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Too much misunderstanding from assumption. For example, wall receptacle safety ground is completely irrelevant to protecting hardware. That obviously different ground protects humans. Earth ground (an electrically different ground) is needed for hardware protected from destructive transients (ie 120 volts that spikes to maybe above 1000 volts).
Completely different and unrelated is a sudden power outage. That does not harm any appliance - electronic or motorized. Sudden power outage is a threat to unsaved data. A UPS provides temporary and 'dirty' power so that unsaved data can be saved. UPS does nothing to protect hardware or saved data.
A third anomaly - low voltage. Voltage can drop so low that incandescent bulbs dim to 50% intensity. That voltage is ideal for electronics and potentially harmful to motorized appliances. So an AC utility (even 70 years ago) provides sufficient voltage or cuts off power - to protect motorized appliances. Electronics do not care.
AC voltage can change massively. Mac power supply operates as it always does - without any strain or damage. If voltage gets too low, a Mac power supply simply powers off - again without damage. That is AVR ; a standard feature in all electronics.
Motorized appliances do not have that AVR function. So motorized appliances are at most risk from a massively changing AC voltage.
Most power supply failures are due to manufacturing defects. We all saw a classic example. Counterfeit electrolyte caused capacitor failures in appliances many years later. That is one example of what causes most failures - manufacturing defects that can cause failures even many years later.
To say more, a failed internal part must be identified. Otherwise a conclusion can only be from speculation. More likely, voltage variation and Mac power supply failure is only coincidence. Manufacturing defect is a most likely reason for its failure.
Completely different and unrelated is a sudden power outage. That does not harm any appliance - electronic or motorized. Sudden power outage is a threat to unsaved data. A UPS provides temporary and 'dirty' power so that unsaved data can be saved. UPS does nothing to protect hardware or saved data.
A third anomaly - low voltage. Voltage can drop so low that incandescent bulbs dim to 50% intensity. That voltage is ideal for electronics and potentially harmful to motorized appliances. So an AC utility (even 70 years ago) provides sufficient voltage or cuts off power - to protect motorized appliances. Electronics do not care.
AC voltage can change massively. Mac power supply operates as it always does - without any strain or damage. If voltage gets too low, a Mac power supply simply powers off - again without damage. That is AVR ; a standard feature in all electronics.
Motorized appliances do not have that AVR function. So motorized appliances are at most risk from a massively changing AC voltage.
Most power supply failures are due to manufacturing defects. We all saw a classic example. Counterfeit electrolyte caused capacitor failures in appliances many years later. That is one example of what causes most failures - manufacturing defects that can cause failures even many years later.
To say more, a failed internal part must be identified. Otherwise a conclusion can only be from speculation. More likely, voltage variation and Mac power supply failure is only coincidence. Manufacturing defect is a most likely reason for its failure.
Yeah, yeah, you are very knowledgable and clever, but what relevance does all this have to the OP's query?
Amazing how some have such poor reading skills. OP asked
Anyone can read those anomalies and a solution for each. One is so easily manipulated as to even believe AVR has relevance. Again, insufficient comprehension.
For the OP's concerns, his best and necessary recommendation is properly earthed 'whole house' protection. It costs about $1 per appliance. Is necessary to protect everything. Is the only anomaly that remains a serious threat to his desktop, all other computers, all appliances, and to any plug-in surge protector or UPS. And is necessary for both during storms and for similar anomalies that exist when storms do not.
Anyone can read those anomalies and a solution for each. One is so easily manipulated as to even believe AVR has relevance. Again, insufficient comprehension.
For the OP's concerns, his best and necessary recommendation is properly earthed 'whole house' protection. It costs about $1 per appliance. Is necessary to protect everything. Is the only anomaly that remains a serious threat to his desktop, all other computers, all appliances, and to any plug-in surge protector or UPS. And is necessary for both during storms and for similar anomalies that exist when storms do not.
I don't comprehend how whole house surge protection will be of any help if there is a power cut (a fairly frequent occurrence where I am at) when someone is in the middle of doing something on a desktop computer.
For a completely obvious and well proven reason. A power cut does not harm any hardware or any saved data. Where is a single fact and number that disputes that? Never existed. But fear, hearsay, and emotion believe it to be otherwise.
What about unsaved data and files?
What about tidying up / finishing / saving / shutting down something that someone is in the middle of doing?
How come your multitude of posts on these forums obsessing and elucidating the minions about electrical surges and the like appear to be not well received and largely ineffective?
Not only here. He's also a member in another Mac Forum where his posts have been the same. He hasn't posted there since 2015. I was a bit surprised to find him posting here.
Why make any recommendation without first learning facts and numbers? 'Who posts what' obviously is irrelevant. A person is irrelevant. Relevant is the topic, technical facts, and honesty.
Posts found here should be so informed as to also say why. I do not waste time recommending Crepes. You should have never made any of your recommendations.
You clearly never learned facts and specification numbers associated with a UPS or AVR. You confused a surge (an excessively high voltage) with a blackout (a zero voltage). You should have comprehended the significance of an incandescent bulb before posting denials. Power cuts and low voltages are not harmful to electronics. Low voltage is only potentially harmful to motorized appliances. Low main voltage did not make the Mac's power supply to work harder. That is a classic emotionally justified conclusion. That PSU only worked differently - as all PSUs are designed to do. UPS does not claim to protect from potentially harmful surges. Surge protector does nothing for power cuts - that do not harm equipment.
All that was unknown was obviously from topical ignorance. It begs a real question. Why were you making recommendations when so much basic electrical knowledge clearly did not exist? Why then did you repeatedly reply with demeaning comments? Why did you make any conclusion only from anecdotal evidence? That is disingenuous. Also called junk science.
Whose post is irrelevant? Relevant are technically honest facts - with reasons why and associated numbers. Only those posts answered the OP's question about protecting equipment.
So what about unsaved data and files? What is that question and its relevance to the OP's question: protecting equipment? Already stated: UPS only protects unsaved data. It does nothing to protect equipment. Having previously stated that, then what is the question?
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This is the way to go! A decent quality UPS will suit your needs and how much you spend is up to you of course but unfortunately a good quality UPS with a decent backup is not cheap. I use this one:- https://www.amazon.co.uk/CyberPower...qid=1533681206&sr=8-2&keywords=cyberpower+ups
This will keep my gear running for about an hour after a power cut. The iMac is connected to the UPS and shuts down automatically 2 minutes after the power goes off. The UPS is then running my router, NAS, tado heating controller, weather station, security camera, landline phone and a few other bits and pieces. Shutting off the NAS manually gives me an extra 10 minutes or so of power for the router etc. I live in a rural area and often have power cuts. The UPS has been really useful.
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