Reseller's View: UPS Units Need To Be A Key Part Of The Total Solution
By Leonard H. Shostak
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The ups and downs of power make a reseller's life a troubling affair. Over time, fluctuating power can damage a computer and, perhaps worse, lead to intermittent failures that are difficult to diagnose.
The reseller's toolbox should be filled with UPS units. In short, it is inexpensive, easy-to-deploy insurance. The devices help give a system the power it craves and help prevent serious damage from surges, spikes and brownouts. But what kind should one buy? For the units in this review, it is the story of line-interactive vs. standby UPS technology.
There are three main types of UPS units: standby, online and line-interactive.
Standby units electrically connect a PC directly to the wall outlet, only switching the PC to battery power when there is a severe problem with utility-line power.
Online UPSes always power the PC from the batteries. This is an expensive approach that heavily taxes the batteries and circuitry over the life of the unit.
Line-interactive UPSes allow utility power to reach the load but also keep the batteries online in case of a power problem. This hybrid approach makes line-interactive models quicker to respond than standby units but less expensive to create and maintain than online UPSes. They also last longer than online units because they stress the charging and other circuits less than online devices.
The reseller must carefully examine the environment to determine which UPS to install. All three types of UPS units will protect equipment from brownouts, but because standby models require a small amount of time to respond, the line-interactive and online types are more likely to protect against sudden power surges. A surge is typically seen after a power outage. Therefore, line-interactive and online UPSes are preferable in buildings with frequent outages and subsequent surges. Both will constantly suppress excess voltage, keeping voltage to a computer within acceptable limits.
Standby units only suppress excessive utility voltage once it surpasses a certain level.
One final thing to remember is to check the UPS because these devices do not last forever. The batteries die just like the ones in a flashlight, car or remote control (and it is just as annoying, but in this case much more critical). UPS batteries must be replaced every two to three years and even more often if the unit is heavily used.
As mentioned previously, a UPS is insurance. Data-recovery services easily cost more than a good UPS. And a good UPS does not necessarily mean the most expensive model.
LEONARD H. SHOSTAK is president of L&D Computer Consulting Corp., Garden City,
N.Y. He can be reached at lshostak@ldcomp.com.
