3 Essential Equipment to Stormproof Your Appliances

The Philippines is no stranger to typhoons and thunderstorms. We’re used to it and are very much resilient, but our electronic appliances? Not so much. Appliances such as computers, routers, modems, and TVs are prone to outages, surges, and other power issues.

To combat the effects of storms, equipment such as automatic voltage regulators, surge protectors, and uninterruptible power supplies are used as a power outage failsafe or as a way to mitigate potential electrical damage.

You may have seen one of these but wasn’t sure what it’s really for, so here’s how they work.

Automatic Voltage Regulator

Looks familiar? This is an Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR). What it does is that it converts fluctuating voltage levels to constant voltage levels. AVR is just the generic term as they vary in names, sizes, and designs. Some examples are constant voltage regulator, ferroresonant transformer, and line voltage regulator.

The most common example you’ll see is the generic AVRs present around basic Philippine businesses or shops that require a computer or somewhere to plug in a 110 Volt device. These are seen mostly in internet cafes.

Uninterruptible Power Supply

This heavy thing right here is an Uninterruptible Power Supply or UPS. It may look like an AVR but it is not, although it also does what an AVR does (voltage regulation), and it improves upon that by having a unique feature. It provides backup power as soon as the main power source fails. It keeps an appliance plugged into it running for 5 to 15 minutes (depending on the model), giving just enough time to switch to an auxiliary power source or perform a safe shutdown.

Though uncommon in local businesses in the Philippines, the Uninterruptible Power Supply found use in corporate establishments that require constant power to avoid data loss. Data centers, network admins, IT departments, and some offices generally make use of this.

Surge Protector

Check around the house, you might have one in there, and no, this is not an extension cord. While it may look the part, it does not only provide extra outlets, but it also protects your equipment from sudden power surges and voltage spikes.

It also blocks voltage over a safe threshold. According to Techopedia, it’s usually installed in communications structures, industrialized systems, and power distribution panels. Moreover, these are also found in homes and office buildings.

It Never Hurts to be Safe

Understanding how these types of equipment work will definitely help in safeguarding your sensitive electronic appliances. You can even employ all of them at once to ensure maximum safety.

Just hook up your computer and router to a surge protector then plug the surge protector to an Uninterruptible Power Supply. You’ll never have to worry about fluctuations, spikes, and sudden outages anymore. They’re that useful for storm-proofing your electronics.