Don't let bad weather ruin your PC

Generally speaking, you should use battery backup only for your critical equipment to maximize battery life - never plug in printers or scanners. I plug in only my PC, cable modem and router. I wait until I'm ready to shut down the system before plugging in the monitor, so I can see what i'm doing

The backup capacity of UPS units is measured in Volt/Amps (VA). Determining how much UPS you need can involve some onerous calculations, so your best bet is one of the handy calculators on a UPS manufacturer's site. It will probably overstate your needs, but it's better to buy a bit more juice than you need than too little.

The calculator on the American Power Conversion Web site (aps.com) recommended a unit of at least 800 VA to provide 10 minutes of backup power to my desktop system (computer, monitor, router and cable modem). They start at $150. Other experts say I could get away with a somewhat lighter-duty model, in the 600 to 700 VA range, for $100 or so.

There's no need to plug a laptop computer into a line with a battery backup - the laptop's battery kicks in automatically when the power goes out. However, it's always a good idea to plug it into a surge-protected outlet.

A final word: If you're working at home and hear a nasty thunderstorm approaching, give your PC the best protection available: Shut it down, unplug it and put your feet up untll the storm passes. It rarely takes more than a half-hour, and it's guaranteed to work.

mike.himowitz@baltsun.com