We depend on steady, reliable power to live our lives. Unfortunately, power supplies worldwide are anything but dependable. According to an IBM study, your computer is subject to an average of 128 power disturbances a month. That means your system and everything on it-e-mail, financial information, work documents, family photos, music, maybe even medical records-are put at risk more than four times a day!

Selecting a UPS with automatic voltage regulation (AVR) allows you to protect your equipment and data from the most common power disturbances-sags and surges-while preserving its battery for power outages, when you need it most.

What is a sag?

Sags are short-term decreases in voltage, also known as brownouts. According to Bell Laboratories, they account for 87% of all power disturbances. You may notice a sag when a large appliance (refrigerator, air conditioner, washer, etc.) turns on and your lights dim. Faults in the power grid also produce sags-a frequent problem in some regions of the world. Sags can starve your computer of the power it needs to function. Your keyboard may freeze or your system may crash, resulting in lost or corrupted data.

What is a surge?

Surges are short-term increases in voltage. When high-powered electrical equipment like a refrigerator or air conditioner switches off, extra voltage is dissipated through the power line. If this pushes power beyond the voltage range that your computer is designed for, it can stress your system’s delicate components and possibly cause premature failure.

What can you do? 

Choose an award-winning APC UPS with AVR. That way, you not only protect your equipment and data from surges and spikes, you also maximize runtime by correcting dangerous voltages without discharging the battery. AVR monitors incoming power and instantly smooths out both low and high voltages, delivering clean, safe power to your computer. You preserve battery life for when you really need it-during an outage!