Re: Power reductions

Bruce Chapman (bchapman@sd88.bc.ca)
Sun, 7 Jul 1996 11:48:40 EDT

On 6 Jul 96 at 11:44, Jim Ward <jward@connix.com> wrote:
> Utilities expect to have power reductions, brown outs, and blackouts.
> Will a ordinary surge protecter protect my system? If not, what do I

The surge protector absorbs voltage spikes (very short duration
higher voltages) caused in general by utility and commercial
switching, electric motors, and other devices. It may also, if a
sophisticated design, offer protection from RFI (radio frequency
interference) and EMI (Electromagnetic Interference). It does not
protect against brownout (sustained lower voltages).

If your power utility can not maintain the voltage, your only
alternative would be something along the line of a UPS which charges
a battery continously from the mains, and uses an inverter to produce
a square wave alternating current to drive the computer.

If the brownouts are of longer duration, battery life becomes a
problem, perhaps you need to invest in a laptop?

Regards... Bruce <bchapman@sd88.bc.ca>
Computer Technology & Mathematics

Caledonia Senior Secondary
3605 Monroe St.
Terrace B.C. V8G 3C4

fax 604-635-5390