Preparing Your Computer for Electrical Storm Season
The electrical storm season is upon Iowa and we need to protect our computers and important data. Here are some thoughts on preparing for the storms.
Iowa thunderstorms always light up the sky this time of year. Is the average computer user at home or in a small business prepared for the electrical issues and challenges electronic devices face?
- Electrical storms are enemies of computer systems.
For computer users who must still use telephone lines and modems as their primary Internet connection, the risk continues to be significantly higher, as telephone lines conduct electrical currents that are usually not protected by circuit breakers or fuses like electrical lines in a house. There are surge suppressors for sale with telephone breakers, and people with modems should have one installed and tested to protect their computers.
Any line, whether it be cable or DSL, has the potential to absorb and transmit a lightning strike through its copper conductivity medium. DSL is part of the phone lines and therefore makes computers susceptible without some barrier for voltage spikes. Cable is also susceptible and can affect both the audio/visual equipment in the house as well as computers.
Customers who have optical fiber may assume they are better protected and that might well be the case. However, electrical surges can find their way into your home too. Protection is wise on home electrical circuits, especially circuits with sensitive equipment like routers, switches, computers (via network ports), AV equipment and speakers.
- Uninterruptible Power Supplies aid in protecting computers from power surges and dips.
Brand-name surge protectors might be fine, but an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is even better as it offers protection from power spikes, power dips, and outages. Many times, computers and associated equipment are damaged by power dips during lightning storms and not the direct electrical strikes we often see in the computer repair shops.
Direct lightning protection is available for wired Ethernet interfaces that “bleed off” voltage surges or act as breaker switches for Ethernet cabling. This is desirable for people using wireless antennae or satellite dishes for Internet connections running from the roof top to the interior of the home. Of course, good lightning rod protection is assumed on most homes as well.
There are other procedures to follow to help prevent electrical storm disasters. Shut down you computer when you know a storm is approaching. Unplug the computer from wall outlets and physical connections like wired LAN ports, modem ports, and USB connections to cable modems.
Where there is possibility of flooding, hurricane, or water damage, place the computer up high and in a plastic bag (or perhaps 2 plastic bags). Placing the sealed computer equipment in an interior room such as a closet will help protect it better in storms.
ArrowQuick sells and installs UPS equipment that is sized correctly for your computer load. In addition, ArrowQuick offers a data backup service to keep your important documents safe in cases of catastrophe.
Should damage from electrical storms occur to your computer, most likely the data is retrievable from your backup or possibly directly from your hard drive. Damaged power supplies can be replaced. If the damage is done to the motherboard, each computer must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes motherboards can be replaced easily. In other cases, it might be cheaper to purchase a new computer.
Lastly, computer insurance is available that can be used to replace expensive computer and AV equipment. Insurance might be worth considering in certain cases, or check your homeowner’s policy as it may cover claims on your home and/or business machines.
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