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Power Quality : UP 'n Running
Small businesses and commercial facilities are becoming increasingly dependent on sensitive electronic equipment. In fact, electronics now account for over one-third of the nation’s electrical load. Energy consumption by computers and printers alone has been increasing at about 8% annually. In some buildings, office equipment now uses as much energy as lighting, which is the largest commercial load. Some examples of sensitive electronic equipment used for business purposes include:
The advanced electronics that are increasing business efficiency and productivity have also introduced power quality challenges as well. Unlike simpler electrical equipment (i.e., motors) which can tolerate voltage swings, sensitive electronics require a highly stable power source. What were once considered acceptable, minor variations in power may now bring whole offices to a standstill. While the UP ’n Running whole home surge protection and uninterruptible power supply program was developed with the residential consumer in mind, the protective devices available can be applicable and valuable to many small business customers as well. The installation of the meter base surge arrester can be installed on small business service entrances of 200 amps or less, and will provide protection against power surges from the utility system. Plug-in surge strips are highly recommended for any 120 VAC electronic device in an office or business. The line-interactive UPS units are a perfect fit for personal computers and networked systems in a small business because they continuously filter power disturbance events (i.e., sags, swells, brownouts) and maintain operation during blackout periods for up to 20 minutes. For more information, contact Greg Hoffmann at 262-569-2198. |
