What does a Battery Backup do?

A Battery Backup supplies uninterrupted power to electronic devices such as a Computer, Internet Connections, WiFi Router, Network storage, Timeclock, or any other device that requires constant power to operate your business.

What does a Surge Protector do?

A surge protector protects electronic devices from surges of electricity. Most battery backups have surge protectors built in and will not require additional surge protection. A standalone surge protector is cheaper and smaller, they're meant for all other electronic devices that do not require constant power. Laser Printers, laminator, vacuum cleaner, and power tools are some examples.

Florida Summer Check List.

Do you have battery backups for your computers and other sensitive or important electronics?

Have the batteries been replaced in the last 18-24 months?

Do you have power management software installed and configured properly?

Have you tested the UPS to make sure it is functional?

Do you have surge protectors for the rest of your electrical equipment?

Have you replaced the surge protectors in the last 5 years or since your last known power surge?

If you've answered No to any of these questions, now is the time to make sure you're protected. Don't wait until you've lost data or equipment to protect your investments.

Testing Battery Backups and Surge Protectors

Battery Backups should be tested yearly for proper functionality and battery life. Here is how we recommend testing the UPS.

Save anything you're working on.
Close any programs that are running
Turn off the breaker for the area
Start a timer
Is everything on that is expected to be on?
Did the UPS shut down the PC properly before the battery died?
How long did the computer stay up for?
Was it long enough to do what was needed?

We're not aware of any way to test how many joules a surge protector has left in it. Our advice is to replace them every few years or after any major surge.