I'm setting up two gaming PCs at home and while I don't usually have serious power outages, I do experience around 10 to 20 minor outages each year. Additionally, I have a laptop, TV, tablet, and phone that might be plugged in during these events. I usually work away from home, so I'm curious about the best ways to protect my devices. Here are a few questions I have:
1. If I have frequent outages but am not home, would a UPS be pointless since it only keeps devices running briefly? What if a second outage happens or if the power stays out longer than the UPS can handle?
2. How many joules do I need for a surge protector to prevent damage from something like a lightning strike?
3. Are there UPS systems that include surge protection?
4. Would it be safer to just turn off my expensive devices at night and leave them off until I return from work? Is that enough to protect against outages or surges?
5. If my devices use around 650 watts, what size UPS do I need? Should I get one with more capacity than what my devices will draw?
6. I know I can insure some of my devices but worry about the cost vs. value for others.
7. How do you all protect your electronics from power issues? Any tips?
8. If I missed anything, feel free to add your thoughts!
1 Answer
A UPS typically comes with built-in surge protection, which is really important. The battery backup is just a nice bonus that helps you save your progress if the power flickers or goes out.
Got it, so a UPS with surge protection is definitely the way to go! Thanks for clarifying that!