Uninterruptible Power Supply For Small Business
Power failures, no matter how brief, can cause calamity for any business with the near total dependence the modern office has on electrical devices. Any unsaved work on a computer will disappear, network connections will fail, database servers can lock records requiring technical support even after power is restored. For the small business support costs can exceed the cost of installing uninterruptible power supply [UPS] units even before consideration is given to work lost.
There are distinct UPS types, but we will be describing what is know as "on-line" UPS that continuously supplies power from battery reserves thus preempting a multitude of problems including power failure, voltage sags or spikes, brownouts, line noise, frequency variation and the like. In addition to reducing down time and support costs, these units can also prolong the life of the electrical equipment they support.
The CyberPower - 550VA Battery Back-Up System pictured above [ CyberPower Systems ] is typical of the UPS systems available for computer systems. It has 8 outlets providing surge protection, 4 of which also provide uninterrupted power. It will provide approximately 60 minutes of runtime for a workstation and monitor; do not plug unnecessary peripherals such as printers, faxes or the like into the battery backup outlets. This is particularly true of laser printers where the drawdown on resources can exceed the battery's charging capacity.
UPS units from most vendors also include a software CD and USB cable that allow you to set up a utility that can shut down your system should a power interruption occur. The utility monitors the estimated battery capacity and provides an estimate of the duration the system can run without power being restored. It can be set to close all applications and shut down the system at a time specific after the disruption occurs or before the estimated duration ends. Perhaps more important, they include audible and/or digital displays that can alert you to the quality of the power supply they are connected to.
You may have a situation where you have a unit, such as a server, that requires a greater duration should a power failure occur when office systems are unattended. The APC 1500VA from American Power Conversion might suit your needs. This unit has an estimated run time of 154 minutes, depending on the load, and retails for about $199.99. It has 8 outlets, 6 of which provide battery backup.
Your network won't stay up if you don't have power to your router. You may want to have a separate UPS unit for such peripherals. Generally, if your Internet connection is DSL through the phone company, they provide power to their lines separately. In that case you can connect your modem to the UPS allowing you to maintain that connection until you, or the unit, have time to shut down. For such tasks you may be able to do with a smaller unit such as CyberPower - 425VA. It will keep a system and monitor up for an estimated 20 minutes and should be fine for such tasks. Its smaller size may help accommodate smaller spaces where your modem or router may be found and it retails for about $45.
These units are not intended to be a solution for prolonged power outages. But they can prevent lost work and corrupt data files. They may even prevent an appointment with a customer from being a total disaster. The fact they may prolong the life of you systems may be enough reason to consider implementing this solution.
