A sudden loss to your computer’s power supply is not a good idea.

The least of your problems is lost data and prematurely closed applications, the worst is damage to hard drives and fans.

Therefore, you should ideally consider protecting your computer with an uninterruptable power supply, or UPS as it’s better known.

This does as it says, keeping the juice going for your system. It basically recognises that the utility power has dropped and switches to an alternative source of energy; and all this within nano seconds. And the idea is that the UPS system provides enough power for your computer to be shut down safely, or quickly reconnect the utility power.

This differs from a back-up power system which is usually provided by a standby generator which can take minutes to start-up and provide auxiliary power. The whole point with a UPS is that it kicks-in instantly, effectively meaning no power drop at all.

UPS systems are commonly used to protect individual computers, data centres and telecommunication systems, and they range if size from units that can handle one computer (around 200 volt-amperes) to units which protect entire buildings and are rated at several megawatts.

When it comes to buying a UPS for one, or a small number of computers, its best to shop online, or at your local computer shop. They should have a range of suitable and cost-effective devices.

Modern-day UPS devices are divided into a number of categories, which are known most commonly as on-line, line-interactive, and standby.

They all do the same job – keeping your kit fuelled with power – but in slightly different ways. An on-line system uses a method known as double conversion, which means it accepts AC input, turning it to DC power to pass through a battery, before being turned back into AC power again to drive the computer. A line-interactive system redirects a battery’s normal path from re-charging to powering the computer. A standby system (or off-line as its known) basically sleeps until it is needed, allowing the system to be powered directly by the input power and only using reserve power when the input fails. As this is the least expensive type of UPS, then this is the most common type.

Latest models are beginning to use sophisticated fuel cells in order to provide maximum protection time against input power drops.

UPS systems are usually bought as an add-on which sit outside the computer, but they can also be fitted internally, sitting inside the computer chassis. One of these is actually a miniaturized standard UPS which is made small enough to fit into a 5.25 inch CD-ROM bay. The other type consists of internal power supply boxes which have been re-engineered to call-on both AC and DC power inputs as appropriate, and organise this process through a switchable management control unit.

UPS systems tend to be connected to the computer it protects via a cable inserted into the serial port. This connects to a subsection within the operating system which handles communications, such as warning and shut-down commands.

So, if you want to keep that expensive computer in tip-top condition and your data safe, it’s a good idea to invest in a quality UPS system.