subject: Protecting Your Business With Uninterrupted Power [print this page] Office equipment and industrial machinery typically requires uninterrupted power to ensure that your business does not suffer as a result of power loss. It doesnt necessarily take a complete power cut for equipment to shut down either. A brownout is a sustained drop in the voltage of mains supplied power and this can lead to computers, servers, and other machinery and electrical items from being closed down improperly; you may lose data, damage the hard drive, or endure significant damage to an entire network.
The UPS
Providing uninterrupted power to such machinery typically means installing a UPS or Uninterruptible Power Supply. A UPS sits between the mains supply and the machinery that you wish to protect. If the voltage drops to a certain level and a shut down is imminent then the battery backup power will take the strain until the mains supply is back up to an appropriate level.
Protect One Computer Or A Whole Building
Uninterrupted power can be supplied to a single machine or other piece of equipment, or it can be offered to an entire room or building. You should first determine which machinery is the most critical to your business performance as well as the equipment that is prone to damage if it shuts down unexpectedly. Not all computers and hardware may need to be protected but the most important should.
Battery UPS
The backup power supply usually comes from a battery or series of batteries. The simplest UPS will often use a single battery and offer enough time for a computer or other piece of equipment to be shut down safely. Alternatively, if uninterrupted power is needed on a long term basis then its possible to use a series of batteries or an alternative power source.
Recharging The UPS
A battery powered UPS should use a rechargeable battery. As the device is powered by the mains supply this will also recharge the UPS battery so that whenever you need to rely on the backup power it will be able to offer enough voltage for a long enough period of time. Complex systems may even be set to automatically shut down computers and notify individuals by text or email when this occurs.
