Welcome to
the second edition, year four of Presidio Computer's Newsletter.
Vol 4. No. 2
I have not
been able to meet my goal of frequent newsletters. Additionally, I have received comments that
my newsletters are too long. Thus, I
have decided to try a monograph approach.
This
newsletter will focus on a meteorologically timed event, Tucson’s summer
monsoon season. The season rapidly
approaches.
During the
1970’s or 80’s, there was a television commercial for a margarine product. The tag line was “Its not nice to fool with
mother nature.” The same certainly
applies to lightning.
The only
protection one has, against lighting, is to avoid it. In terms of your computer, to achieve 100%
protection, you must unplug your computer from the electrical grid. You must unplug the power to your
computer. If your computer is connected
to the internet via cable modem, dial up, or satellite, you must disconnect
your internet cord. You must disconnect
the cable the connects your computer to your monitor or disconnect the power
cable to your monitor. You must
disconnect the speaker cable, or disconnect the power cord to the
speakers.
In essence,
your computer must become an island.
A surge
protector will provide limited protection against the surges that travel along
the power grid, when your electricity provider turns on another power
generator. It provides no protection
against lightning.
An
uninterrupted power supply [ UPS ] provides no protection against
lightning. A UPS device is basically an
auto battery inside a fancy case. Some
electronic components allow you to keep your computer and devices connected to
the UPS, for some time, usually about 20 minutes. This can be decreased if you have connected
your printer / scanner / copier, network device, lamp, or other components to
the UPS device.
Many UPS
devices come with a data backup program that will backup your data to a data
backup device, automatically, when the power to the UPS device has been
interrupted. The UPS device will also attempt
to automatically turn off your computer, if there is an interruption of power
to the UPS device.
[ If the UPS
device detects that there is no electricity flowing to the UPS device, a backup
and / or shutdown process will begin.
]
Some UPS device
manufacturers provide a financial re-imbursement plan, in case your equipment
is damaged by an electrical surge and / or lightning strike. Be sure to check the terms of the “warranty”
provided, if any protection is offered.
A lightning
strike many miles distant to your computer can enter the local power grid and
blow out your computer. The lightning
strike does not need to be in your neighborhood!
Contact your
home owner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, business insurance or other
personal property insurance company to determine if coverage is available. You may already have some financial
protection.
Whether the
protection is provided by your insurance company or by the manufacturer of the
UPS device, the insurance probably covers ONLY the equipment. The costs to recover your data are probably
not included.
Remember to
backup your data frequently.
Reminder:
You can now access previous issues of the newsletter, from my website. When you visit www.presidiocomputers.com, no
cookies are placed on your computer.
As always,
Presidio Computers, is available to assist you with any of the computer issues
described above.
If you want
your name removed from this mailing list, please let me know. Your name is not
kept in an address book. Your name is neither shared with nor sold to anyone.
You will not receive any junk mail from Presidio Computers.
Disclaimer: The material contained in this newsletter is
provided for informational purposes only. No guarantees nor warranties are
expressly given nor implied.
Best of
success.
Sincerely,
Ed Sloup
Presidio Computers, LLC
520 731 6446
www.presidiocomputers.com