INTRODUCTION

   Damage to electrical devices of all kinds from surges and noise coming from the local power grid is not uncommon, far from it really. As a matter of fact, i know of at least 3 people who in 2021 alone had devices from refrigerators and TV screens to speaker systems and computer hardware fail because of surges in their local power grids so again, far from uncommon. This is why I’ve always considered the use of a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) to be extremely crucial, even more so when it comes to computers. You see you can effectively "battle" power surges by installing a surge protector in the electrical panel of your home and/or office (however do keep in mind that in case of a power surge some models require several minutes in order to continue feeding power to your building) but your computer will still shut down and if you happen to be in the middle of something that will be far from ideal especially if instead of a surge we're talking about a complete blackout. By using even a rather entry-level/capacity UPS model instead you'll have plenty of time to save whatever it is that you're doing and shut down your computer. On the other hand, if you choose to invest on a high-end/capacity model you will have the "luxury" to keep doing what it is you're doing for a long period of time (perhaps even for the duration of that blackout). The award winning Smart-UPS line by APC is probably their top non-rackmount one and with me today i have the SMT1500IC 1500VA model.

   As a global specialist in energy management and automation with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in Non-residential & Residential Buildings, Industries & Machines Manufacturers, Utilities & Infrastructure and Data Centres & Networks. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the company's 170,000 employees achieved revenues of 30 billion US dollars in 2014, through an active commitment to help individuals and organisations make the most of their energy.

   The Smart-UPS line by APC includes a total of 10 models with 5 different capacities (750/1000/1500/2200/3000VA) all of which feature pure sinewave output waveform (AC to DC to AC conversion) together with online topology (high sensitivity - filters even the fastest power quality disturbances) making them ideal for use with PCs, servers and sensitive equipment in general. This high-end UPS model however packs a lot more than just pure sinewave output waveform such as optimal transfer time (6ms typical, 10ms max), user replaceable and hot-swappable lead-acid batteries (up to 5 years life expectancy), active cooling (80mm side fan - only when battery operated), boost and trim automatic voltage regulation (corrects low and high voltages), user adjustable voltage sensitivity, green power saving mode (up to 97% electrical efficiency), LCD screen with over 15 different programmable settings, automatic self-test, failure notifications, resettable circuit breakers, ethernet, serial and USB connectivity (PowerChute Business - remote access / smartconnect), temperature regulated battery charging (ensures optimal battery charging), intelligent card slot (extra communication options) and a total of 8 IEC outputs. So, let's see how all of the above translate to real world usage.