NSW Storm Season is Here: Is Your Technology & Data Protected?
- Steve Connelly
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The sound of spring in New South Wales often includes more than just the chirping of birds; it's the rumble of approaching thunderstorms. For many of us, this means more than just a quick dash for the laundry on the line. It's a critical time to consider the safety of our valuable electronic devices and the data they hold.
Between September and December, NSW is in its prime storm season. These weather events can bring heavy rain, damaging winds, and flash flooding, but for your technology, the biggest threat comes from the power grid.
What storms can do to your technology
Power surges: A lightning strike on a power pole or a switching event on the grid can send a massive, destructive spike of voltage through your electrical system. This is more than just a flicker; it can instantly "fry" the sensitive circuits in your computers, laptops, routers, and smart TVs, leading to permanent damage.
Power outages: A storm can knock out power completely, but even a momentary blackout can cause havoc. Without a safe shutdown, an active computer can suffer from corrupted files or an unrecoverable operating system.
Voltage fluctuations: Small, frequent changes in voltage (known as sags and swells) stress a device's internal power supply over time. While less dramatic than a surge, these can shorten the lifespan of your electronics and lead to performance issues.
Data line threats: It's not just the power cable you need to worry about. Surges can also travel along phone, network (Ethernet), and coaxial cables, reaching and damaging devices like routers and modems.
How a UPS offers peace of mind
This is where an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) becomes an essential piece of equipment for every home office or entertainment system. A UPS is more than just a power strip; it's an intelligent device that stands guard between your valuable tech and the volatile power grid.
Here’s how a UPS, like the Powershield 750VA, protects your equipment and data:
Surge protection: The UPS acts as a heavy-duty surge protector, absorbing and diverting excess voltage before it can reach your sensitive devices.
Emergency battery backup: In the event of a total power failure, the UPS switches instantly to battery power. This gives you time to save your work and perform a proper, safe shutdown of your computer.
Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR): A line-interactive UPS like the Powershield constantly regulates the incoming voltage, correcting minor fluctuations without even needing to switch to battery.
Data line protection: It offers dedicated ports for your network cables to prevent surges from entering through your internet connection.
Powershield 750VA UPS
⚡ Understanding UPS Capacity — What Do the “VA” Numbers Mean?
When shopping for an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), you’ll notice numbers like 650VA, 750VA, or 1200VA on the box.These aren’t model numbers — they tell you how much electrical load the UPS can handle, a bit like how an engine’s size shows its power.
🔍 What Does “VA” Mean?
VA stands for Volt-Amps, which measures the UPS’s total power output capacity.You can think of it as the UPS’s “strength” — how much equipment it can safely power when there’s a blackout or voltage fluctuation.
💡 Choosing the Right Size UPS
Here’s a quick guide to help you match a UPS to your setup:
650VA–750VA: Perfect for one computer, monitor, and a few small devices like a modem or NAS drive.
1000VA–1500VA: Great for multiple computers, servers, or point-of-sale systems.
Above 1500VA: Designed for heavier-duty setups or small network rooms.
✅ Key Takeaways
Higher VA = More Power. The higher the VA rating, the more devices your UPS can support.
Right Size = Longer Runtime. A correctly sized UPS gives you time to save work and shut down safely.
Extra Capacity = Peace of Mind. It’s always smarter to go a little bigger than you think you need.
☂️ A Simple Way to Think About It
Choosing a UPS is like picking the right umbrella — a small one might cover you, but a larger one keeps everything important dry when the storm hits.
🔋 Our Recommendation: PowerShield 750VA UPS
The PowerShield 750VA UPS is a perfect fit for most home or small-office users.It provides reliable protection, stable power, and just enough backup time to save work and shut down safely — all in a compact, easy-to-install design.
Comments