In last night’s email newsletter (picks@lockergnome.com), I linked to a video question submitted through my EyeJot video widget. Recently, Aaron asked a question about Uninterruptible Power Supplies. I suggested getting a unit that included Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), subsequently hyperlinking everyone to a classic story on UPS batteries. Fellow Lockergnome subscriber Brian Newell submitted:

Regarding Aaron’s question about UPS, wouldn’t a line conditioner or isolation transformer work just as well? It sounds like there are no true power outages so a battery backup might be overkill (although that’s not necessarily a BAD thing). After a quick check on tripplite.com, comparable MSRP pricing on Tripplite products are $172 for a 1200 watt line conditioner (LC1200), $400 for a 1000 watt isolation transformer (IS1000) and $599 for a 940 watt UPS (TE1200). And, yes, I realize that an isolation transformer in a home is overkill. Whoever heard of the need for an electrical circuit in a home to be completely dedicated from other circuits just to run a computer? Although if you’re talking about an expensive home theater system or the downtime someone might experience while waiting for replacement components after electrical damage….

I’ve been largely satisfied with Belkin’s line of hardware, but I’m also wondering what you use? How do you protect your electrical equipment?

UPS Opinions and Choices