Are You Prepared for Another Blackout? You’d Better Be

Blackouts expose weak European networks

Remember the blackout in 2006 that hit large parts of Europe and left millions of people in Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and Spain without power, stopped trains in their tracks, and trapped people in elevators? Not to mention the many blackouts across Europe in 2003 that paralysed the London Underground, left most of Italy's 57 million people without power for hours, and sent 4 million people in eastern Denmark and southern Sweden into the dark?
Could it happen again? Absolutely. The European Commission has named poor coordination between transmission network operators as one of the main root causes for blackouts.

APC by Schneider Electric, the worldwide leader in critical power protection, has compiled a checklist of 9 key considerations to safeguard sensitive electronic equipment (and the valuable data they contain) in the event of a blackout.

1. Start with AC line surge protection
At the very least, any "critical" electronics should be protected from harmful high voltage (surges or spikes). Regular outlet strips aren't helpful unless they contain surge suppression capability. Look for surge protectors with low let-through voltage ratings. How does this help during a blackout? When the utility restores power, it can sometimes fluctuate (causing surges, spikes, and sags) until it returns to normal.

2. Bulletproof the "back door"
Surges can enter electronic equipment by anything plugged into the unit-not just by electrical cords but also by telephone lines, Ethernet connections, coaxial cables, etc. Be sure to close off any such "back door" entrances to equipment by selecting surge protectors with telephone/data line/coax protection (whatever your particular application calls for).

3. Think runtime
In addition to basic surge protection, consider those devices you need to keep in continued operation in case of an outage. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS, also known as a battery backup) provides battery-supplied backup power during a blackout. These units can be sized according to (a) the amount of VA/watts consumed by the connected devices and (b) the length of runtime required.

4. Monitor and manage
Power management software monitors the quality of power coming into the building, keeps a log of any power events, and notifies you (via pager, e-mail, etc.) of any impending problems. Top-notch power management software automatically and safely shuts down operating systems and certain applications if power is suddenly lost, as well as saving any data "in progress."

5. Check compatibility
Information technology continues to grow, as do the number of vendors bringing products to the marketplace. Compatibility is especially important when trying to keep everything up and running. Power protection solutions should be able to integrate not only with a wide array of desktop operating systems, network management tools, and popular software applications but also with any and all plug types, data line connectors, and voltage requirements.

6. Shutdown not an option?
Should your particular application require 24x7 availability, safe system shutdown may not be the best option. In such instances, you need a UPS that has sufficient runtime to ride you through even an extended power outage.

7. Boost UPS capacity
Many UPS models have the means to add extra batteries to increase power capacity. This option is available for battery backup units suitable for desktop, server, networking/telecom equipment, and environments where power is considered at the rack, row, or room level.

8. Check the battery
Even the best UPS batteries wear out sooner or later. Most people don't realize that their battery is out of juice until it's too late. If the battery is three years old, it's past its prime.

9. Generator integrator
During the initial moments of a blackout, many business users anticipate that their on-site generator will kick in, and imagine this to be sufficient for the normal, continuous operation of their sensitive IT equipment. Most large on-site generators take time to start up, requiring a crossover solution until they reach the appropriate power level. A quality UPS can handle this transition.