Power


How to protect your electronics from an interrupted power supply


few seconds, can cause big headaches for businesses and homes alike.


Even in developed countries, a constant power supply can’t be guaranteed. As winter draws in, more storms mean possible lightning strikes causing irregularities, or wind knocking down pylons. Meanwhile, national power grids are under increasing strain. Take for example this summer’s recent power cut that knocked large parts of the UK off the grid. Whether it’s power stations failing, or even potential future cyberattacks, we all need to prepare for an interrupted power supply.


Make sure you protect your electronics


Holder Engelbrecht, product manager Tools & Lighting, reichelt elektronik


I


s there anything more frustrating than a sudden loss of power? That feeling when you know that you should have saved your work five minutes ago, and then before you know it, your computer is rebooting. Or even worse, everyone’s computer in the office is rebooting. Power outages and interruptions, even just for a


12 October 2019


Power outages can mean lights and computers switching off, but in many ways, this is not the biggest threat posed by an interrupted power supply. The bigger issue is the harm that voltage spikes can cause to electronics. If left unprotected, the voltage fluctuations resulting from a disrupted power supply can severely damage expensive electronic devices. The last thing anyone wants is their new equipment fried thanks to a thunder storm.


Ensure you have an uninterrupted power supply Fortunately, protecting against these situations can be done simply by installing an uninterrupted power supply (UPS). The purpose of a UPS is to secure the power supply for connected


Components in Electronics


electronic systems in the event of a power failure. If the mains supply is interrupted or the current values are above or below the permissible tolerance range, the UPS immediately supplies the connected, sensitive systems with current or protects them against overvoltages. A UPS differs from a general backup power supply (AEV) in that it can supply critical loads immediately. With an AEV, on the other hand, there is always a short interruption. Depending on the device and the task being performed, even a brief interruption can lead to those annoying and damaging situations such as damage to electronics or loss of data. Crucially, a UPS protects not just against interruptions to supply, but also against voltage fluctuations. The system compensates for fluctuations in the power grid and provides energy from accumulators in the event of a power failure. The accumulators are first charged from the power grid and then recharge themselves automatically after use.


Get the right UPS for you The kind of UPS you want to install really depends on the scale of what you’re trying to protect. For private households, you need to consider how many devices you’re trying to protect. As well as appliances and TVs, there are also smart home elements to consider, as well as security cameras (which you really won’t want to fail in the event of a power cut). Remember too that


the more complex and sophisticated a device is, the more sensitive they become to voltage fluctuations. You’ll want to make sure that fancy new laptop is protected. Fortunately, there are simpler UPS models under £100 that can give households an adequate level of protection against interrupted power supply, voltage peaks, and lightning strikes. While a UPS is more of a nice-to-have for households, for business they are pretty much essential. Every year, billions of dollars in global losses are incurred due to power supply disruptions and related downtime. If your business uses specialised equipment for research or manufacturing, it’s even more important to protect against voltage fluctuations that could cause irreparable damage.


As with most things, the UPS can scale up to the needs of your business. Those built for professional use have much higher performance. Those at the top of the range also pack in more intelligence, with the ability to act autonomously and scale to the right level of protection. Fortunately, protecting against an interrupted power supply if very possible. If you’re looking to protect your electronics – as well as your productivity – a UPS may well be the right solution for you. From power cuts to lightning strikes, a UPS can ensure your home or office stays out of harm’s way.


reichelt.com www.cieonline.co.uk


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