10 ways to protect systems from electrical damage

PCs, servers, switches, routers, broadband modems, KVM switches and other computer equipment are all subject to electrical damage. From improper site wiring to lightning strikes, a wide variety of electrical issues constantly threaten systems and peripherals. Check out the following 10 suggestions to ensure you've the taken necessary precautions to protect against data loss and equipment damage.

#1: Verify electricity levels
Most computer equipment is designed to use 120 volts of AC power supplied at 60 Hertz. Electrical current provided by a local utility or throughout a site or facility can vary from that standard, however; sometimes significantly.

When deploying new systems, and as facilities are expanded and adjoining sites grow, be sure the local power grid continues providing proper electrical baselines. Both sags and surges adversely affect PC and server electrical components and can lead to subsequent failures and data loss.

Use a multimeter to reveal the voltage an AC power outlet provides to systems and equipment. If baselines vary by 2 percent or less, invest in electrical conditioning equipment, such as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). If baselines vary by 3 percent or more, contact the local utility, a licensed electrical contractor or facilities management to explore and correct the errors.

#2: Confirm that supply circuits are grounded properly
Surge protectors and UPS devices can't properly safeguard the sensitive hardware they're designed to protect if the electrical outlets they're plugged into aren't properly grounded. Ground wiring is responsible for diverting most power surges. When ground wiring is compromised, surges don't have an effective suppression path. Expensive servers, PCs and network equipment can subsequently suffer significant damage.

Information technology professionals typically aren't responsible for a facility's wiring quality, but as they're responsible for maintaining the computer systems and networks powered by the facility's electrical supply, IT pros have an interest in ensuring electrical outlets and power supplies are properly grounded.

Many UPS and surge-protector models will light a warning lamp if the outlet into which they're plugged isn't properly grounded. Most DIY and hardware stores also sell inexpensive circuit testers that are simply plugged into outlets to confirm that circuits are grounded properly.

Whenever deploying new equipment, be sure to test the circuit first. When using surge protectors or UPS devices that feature improper-grounding alarms, also verify that the alarm light isn't lit.

#3: Don't overload circuits
Too many desktop computers, servers and network devices connected to a single circuit can easily overpower the electrical supply. Notice I didn't say too many desktop computers, servers, and network devices connected to a single outlet.

Splitting outlets (using power strips, surge protectors and UPS devices) does nothing but multiply the power demands placed upon the circuit to which those outlets are connected. Placing excessive demands upon a circuit can result in intermittent power failures, wide variations in available electricity and even fire hazards, as overworked circuits exceed safe operating ranges.

As CPU speeds and capacities and video card capabilities, among other elements, have increased, server and PC power requirements have grown as well. Carefully research your server room or office's power requirements to make sure the site's electricity requirements are sufficient.

Several resources are available for helping estimate appropriate power levels. Check out these sources for more information:

• Calculating Total Power Requirements for Data Centers (APC White Paper)
• Powering the Data Center Efficiently (HP White Paper)
• System Power and Cooling Requirements (Sun Book Chapter)

#4: Use a UPS/surge protector
Avoid deploying unprotected power strips, which do nothing to protect connected equipment from sags, surges and lightning strikes. Deploy surge protectors and UPS devices instead.

Connect all sensitive electronic equipment to UPS or surge-protection devices. Remember that a laser printer's fusers generate strong bursts of electrical consumption that can damage UPS units.

Mobile systems pose a particular challenge. Ensure that all employees working away from the office carry and use effective surge protectors when travelling with laptops.

#5: Properly calculate UPS/surge-protector capacity
Just as electrical circuits can easily be overwhelmed, so too can a UPS device's power capacity be exceeded. Carefully calculate the power demands for the systems attached to a UPS device to ensure that the UPS can power the connected equipment.

Most UPS manufacturers provide interactive calculators you can use to estimate the volts-amperes and watts required to power your systems. Use these links for more information:

• American Power Conversion's product selection wizards
• Belkin product selection wizards
• Tripp Lite's product selectors

When selecting surge protectors, purchase models featuring a sufficient number of protected outlets. A five-outlet surge protector may cover five devices, but it does no good if additional unprotected outlets must be utilised for other systems or peripherals.

Also ensure the surge protector selected includes lightning protection. Without protection from common thunderstorms, a surge protector can prove useless in safeguarding sensitive computer equipment from electrical spikes, resulting in failed hardware and corrupt and lost data...