An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) isn’t just a nicety these days; it’s a necessity. Take a look at the power cables running behind your desk. Are they all plugged into a cheesy power strip that’s masquerading as a surge suppressor? Or do you have an honest-to-goodness uninterruptible power supply? If you’re lucky enough to have a real uninterruptible power supply, do you know how long will it last in the event of a power failure?

It’s important to size your uninterruptible power supply to the equipment it supports. If the UPS is too small, you will have precious little time to safely shut down your computer. While I like to think the bigger the better, I know all too well that it’s the budget that often dictates the purchase decision. (That having been said, I’d be in heaven with a big UPS to feed all of the computer gear in my office.)

You should resist the temptation to plug everything into the battery backup outlets of your UPS. The less drain you put on the batteries, the longer they will last. Try to keep it to the minimum of just the monitor and the computer itself.

The batteries in an uninterruptible power supply will not last indefinitely. (I’ve had a few go south on me over the years.) That’s why you should periodically test the UPS to make sure that the batteries are still functioning. While some models may have alarms to warn of a failing battery, others may not.

When the uninterruptible power supply battery finally does give up the ghost, you may be able to replace it, depending on the model and manufacturer. The better UPS manufacturers will offer a battery exchange program, allowing you to send in your old battery. And like soon to be jailbird Martha says, “that’s a good thing.” Battery disposal is a non-trivial matter. You shouldn’t ever consider throwing a great big UPS battery in the trash–the last place it should land is a landfill.

[tags]uninterruptible power supply[/tags]