Power outage effects

[garyr]

I live in an area where there are occasional power outages. What are
the consequences of loosing power to a computer (XP Home, SP3) when it
is operating normally and when in the Standby state?

 

[Leonard Grey]

Loss of data. Damage to components.

Buy a UPS (uninterrupted power supply). A UPS supplies battery power to
your system for a few minutes - long enough for you to shut down your
computer in an orderly manner until the power returns. Many UPSes come
with software that can shut your computer down automatically, should
there be a power outage while you are not home. And if all that isn't
enough, a UPS includes a surge suppressor.

All in all, a wise purchase.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I live in an area where there are occasional power outages. What are
the consequences of loosing power to a computer (XP Home, SP3) when it
is operating normally and when in the Standby state?

Nothing is certain, but there is always a substantial risk. You can
lose some or much of what's on your hard drive.

I strongly recommend that you invest in a UPS, such as this one on
sale by Amazon.com for $59.99:
http://www.amazon.com/APC-Back-UPS-Outlet-550VA-120V/dp/B0019804U8/ref=pd_bb
<http://www.amazon.com/APC-Back-UPS-Outlet-550VA-120V/dp/B0019804U8/ref=pd_bb>
s_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1230423877&sr=8-1

or http://tinyurl.com/7y99fn <http://tinyurl.com/7y99fn>

I think everyone should have a UPS for his computer, but *especially*
people like you who live where there are power outages.

 

[Jose]

The "solution" to the problem has been stated - buy a UPS.

I often pose the question: Have you really fixed the problem or did
you merely fix a symptom of the problem?

You do not want to be trying to fix the symptoms of the problem you
describe. Fix the problem.

A UPS will allow you to perform a graceful shutdown until power is
stable or restored.

 

[Buffalo]

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
[snip]

I think everyone should have a UPS for his computer, but *especially*
people like you who live where there are power outages.

Hey Ken, have you or anyone you know ever replaced the battery for an UPS
with just a lead acid battery (small car or motorcycle battery)? You could
just set it next to the UPS unit and connect it with clamps.
You could probably really extend the time that your PC would run during a
power failure. The more powerful UPS units are very expensive and I'm not
sure that the main difference is just the size of the battery or not.
Thanks,
Buffalo

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
[snip]

I think everyone should have a UPS for his computer, but *especially*
people like you who live where there are power outages.

Hey Ken, have you or anyone you know ever replaced the battery for an UPS
with just a lead acid battery (small car or motorcycle battery)? You could
just set it next to the UPS unit and connect it with clamps.

I haven't, and I don't know anyone who did. Whether it would work
properly, I don't know (what's the voltage of a UPS battery?), but
even if it did, I'd be very unhappy with a lead acid battery inside my
house.

You could probably really extend the time that your PC would run during a
power failure.

Maybe.


The more powerful UPS units are very expensive and I'm not
sure that the main difference is just the size of the battery or not.

A UPS that would keep most of us going for half an hour or so is
usually under $100 US, and half an hour is long enough for most of us.
I own three inexpensive UPSs, one for each of my desktop computers,
and I have never had a problem with any of them not providing power
long enough.

 

[John John (MVP)]

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
[snip]

I think everyone should have a UPS for his computer, but *especially*
people like you who live where there are power outages.

Hey Ken, have you or anyone you know ever replaced the battery for an UPS
with just a lead acid battery (small car or motorcycle battery)? You could
just set it next to the UPS unit and connect it with clamps.
You could probably really extend the time that your PC would run during a
power failure. The more powerful UPS units are very expensive and I'm not
sure that the main difference is just the size of the battery or not.

Computers and regular UPS don't work on 12v DC current, they mostly all
run on standard household current. With a simple plug adapter you can
run a laptop on a car battery but you can't run desktop equipment off
automobile batteries. You would need to run the car battery through a
power inverter. And of course, like Ken said, who wants a lead acid
battery in the house?

John

 

[TonyDigital]

I live in an area where there are occasional power outages. What are
the consequences of loosing power to a computer (XP Home, SP3) when it
is operating normally and when in the Standby state?

Hi,


Occasional power outages and power fluctuations can lead to hardware
damage and data loss. If you live in an area where this is common, it's
well worth while to invest in a UPS that will regular the power for you
and provide you enough power to save essential work and shut down
safely.

What's your computer configuration like?



Tony,

 

[ushere]

from personal experience the $150 or so investment in a ups is much
better than a fried pc / hd / whathaveyou.
i recommend a ups for all sensitive equipment, and surge protectors on
all other electronic equipment.

 

[Geoff]

Gee Ken, I hope you don't park your car/s in your garage attached to or
forming a part of your house.........

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
[snip]

I think everyone should have a UPS for his computer, but *especially*
people like you who live where there are power outages.

Hey Ken, have you or anyone you know ever replaced the battery for an UPS
with just a lead acid battery (small car or motorcycle battery)? You
could
just set it next to the UPS unit and connect it with clamps.

I haven't, and I don't know anyone who did. Whether it would work
properly, I don't know (what's the voltage of a UPS battery?), but
even if it did, I'd be very unhappy with a lead acid battery inside my
house.

You could probably really extend the time that your PC would run during a
power failure.

Maybe.


The more powerful UPS units are very expensive and I'm not
sure that the main difference is just the size of the battery or not.

A UPS that would keep most of us going for half an hour or so is
usually under $100 US, and half an hour is long enough for most of us.
I own three inexpensive UPSs, one for each of my desktop computers,
and I have never had a problem with any of them not providing power
long enough.

 

[Leonard Grey]

The amount you pay depends on how much protection you need. For my home
computer setup I paid $US 50.

 

[TonyDigital]

TonyDigital wrote:-
garyr;3235481 Wrote:-
I live in an area where there are occasional power outages. What
are the consequences of loosing power to a computer (XP Home, SP3)
when it is operating normally and when in the Standby state?-
-

from personal experience the $150 or so investment in a ups is much
better than a fried pc / hd / whathaveyou.
i recommend a ups for all sensitive equipment, and surge protectors on
all other electronic equipment.

I couldn't agree more. It's worth while investing in a good UPS. You
get what you pay for with UPSs, you buy good quality and you get
quality and dependability. If you buy a cheap UPS you get poor quality
and unreliable performance.


Tony,

 

[Buffalo]

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
[snip]

I think everyone should have a UPS for his computer, but
*especially* people like you who live where there are power outages.

Hey Ken, have you or anyone you know ever replaced the battery for
an UPS with just a lead acid battery (small car or motorcycle
battery)? You could just set it next to the UPS unit and connect it
with clamps.
You could probably really extend the time that your PC would run
during a power failure. The more powerful UPS units are very
expensive and I'm not sure that the main difference is just the size
of the battery or not.

Computers and regular UPS don't work on 12v DC current, they mostly
all run on standard household current. With a simple plug adapter
you can run a laptop on a car battery but you can't run desktop
equipment off automobile batteries. You would need to run the car
battery through a power inverter. And of course, like Ken said, who
wants a lead acid battery in the house?

John

Wrong John.
How do you think UPS systems work?

 

[Ron Rosenfeld]

Gee Ken, I hope you don't park your car/s in your garage attached to or
forming a part of your house.........

I'm not sure where you are located. In most places in the US (and I'm certain
of Maine and NH), building code requires fire-resistant construction around an
attached garage.
--ron

 

[TonyDigital]

;3235687']The amount you pay depends on how much protection you need
For my home
computer setup I paid $US 50.

[/QUOTE]

Hi,


What's your set up? What kind of UPS do you have?



Ton

 

[John John (MVP)]

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
[snip]


I think everyone should have a UPS for his computer, but
*especially* people like you who live where there are power outages.


Hey Ken, have you or anyone you know ever replaced the battery for
an UPS with just a lead acid battery (small car or motorcycle
battery)? You could just set it next to the UPS unit and connect it
with clamps.
You could probably really extend the time that your PC would run
during a power failure. The more powerful UPS units are very
expensive and I'm not sure that the main difference is just the size
of the battery or not.

Computers and regular UPS don't work on 12v DC current, they mostly
all run on standard household current. With a simple plug adapter
you can run a laptop on a car battery but you can't run desktop
equipment off automobile batteries. You would need to run the car
battery through a power inverter. And of course, like Ken said, who
wants a lead acid battery in the house?

John

Wrong John.
How do you think UPS systems work?

How exactly do *you* think that it works? If you think that you can run
a computer on 12 volts DC current, and if you think that you can charge
UPS batteries with a 12 volt car battery then you don't know how things
work. Unless specially built, the input requirements for almost all UPS
systems is standard household current.

John

 

[Geoff]

Australia (you know, the big island in the south pacific)

 

[Ron Rosenfeld]

Australia (you know, the big island in the south pacific)

Maybe your building codes are different, or not enforced. But there is an
International version of the building codes that also includes similar
requirements.
--ron

 

[Buffalo]

Buffalo wrote:

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
[snip]


I think everyone should have a UPS for his computer, but
*especially* people like you who live where there are power
outages.


Hey Ken, have you or anyone you know ever replaced the battery for
an UPS with just a lead acid battery (small car or motorcycle
battery)? You could just set it next to the UPS unit and connect it
with clamps.
You could probably really extend the time that your PC would run
during a power failure. The more powerful UPS units are very
expensive and I'm not sure that the main difference is just the
size of the battery or not.

Computers and regular UPS don't work on 12v DC current, they mostly
all run on standard household current. With a simple plug adapter
you can run a laptop on a car battery but you can't run desktop
equipment off automobile batteries. You would need to run the car
battery through a power inverter. And of course, like Ken said, who
wants a lead acid battery in the house?

John

Wrong John.
How do you think UPS systems work?

How exactly do *you* think that it works? If you think that you can
run a computer on 12 volts DC current, and if you think that you can
charge UPS batteries with a 12 volt car battery then you don't know
how things work. Unless specially built, the input requirements for
almost all UPS systems is standard household current.

John

Not at all John. The UPS uses household voltage and it has a charger in it
that keeps the battery in the UPS charged up. When you have a power failure,
the UPS uses the battery inside to supply power to the computer (of coures
it must be changed to 115-120v).. The bigger the battery, the longer the
power will last during a power failure. This is what must be replaced in an
UPS every 3-6 yrs.
So, I was just thinking that if the battery inside is 12v then you could
probably use a sealed marine battery or similar and not only would it be
cheaper, it would supply power much longer during a power failure.
Of course you would have to do a little soldering, etc.

 

[Jose]

Buffalo wrote:

John John (MVP) wrote:
Buffalo wrote:
Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
[snip]
I think everyone should have a UPS for his computer, but
*especially* people like you who live where there are power
outages.
Hey Ken, have you or anyone you know ever replaced the battery for
an UPS with just a lead acid battery  (small car or motorcycle
battery)? You could just set it next to the UPS unit and connect it
with clamps.
You could probably really extend the time that your PC would run
during a power failure. The more powerful UPS units are very
expensive and I'm not sure that the main difference is just the
size of the battery or not.
Computers and regular UPS don't work on 12v DC current, they mostly
all run on standard household current.  With a simple plug adapter
you can run a laptop on a car battery but you can't run desktop
equipment off automobile batteries.  You would need to run the car
battery through a power inverter.  And of course, like Ken said, who
wants a lead acid battery in the house?
John
Wrong John.
How do you think UPS systems work?

How exactly do *you* think that it works?  If you think that you can
run a computer on 12 volts DC current, and if you think that you can
charge UPS batteries with a 12 volt car battery then you don't know
how things work.  Unless specially built, the input requirements for
almost all UPS systems is standard household current.

John

Not at all John. The UPS uses household voltage and it has a charger in it
that keeps the battery in the UPS charged up. When you have a power failure,
the UPS uses the battery inside to supply power to the computer (of coures
it must be changed to 115-120v).. The bigger the battery, the longer the
power will last during a power failure. This is what must be replaced in an
UPS every 3-6 yrs.
So, I was just thinking that if the battery inside is 12v then you could
probably use a sealed marine battery or similar and not only would it be
cheaper, it would supply power much longer during a power failure.
Of course you would have to do a little soldering, etc.

Criminy. Is this horse dead yet?