Spring is here and summer is not far away. Spring and summer is storm season here on the Middle Peninsula. Your computer's supply of electricity is at risk. If the power is cut suddenly or lightening strikes, bad things can happen. Here's the information you need to make sure you are prepared.

I'm sure you've heard the "save early and save often" rule when working on important documents. This is very true when the electricity gets "dirty". A blackout during that 15-page term paper or report could mean starting all over. A lightening strike could mean a new computer. Now is the time to assess your computer's vulnerability to electrical problems.

First, determine whether your home is equipped to handle all the electronics you are using. If you have doubts about its electrical capacity, spring for a visit from a qualified electrician and find out where you stand. Try not to overload a particular circuit, and if you have a home office, consider putting all your expensive equipment on a dedicated circuit.

Circuit breakers are designed to stop some of the damage, but by the time they trip, the damage to your computer is probably done. You need power protection engineered for personal computers.

There are three levels of power protection  — surge suppression, power conditioning and uninterruptible supply. No matter which level of power protection you choose, make sure that everything connected to your computer is included. That means, the power, network cables (including Cox cable if you use their internet service, or your DSL connection), phone lines and modem connection. It is also a good idea to have non-laser printers, scanners, and other peripherals attached to surge suppression as well. A power surge through your house can damage phones, TVs and stereo equipment also.

If all you need is basic surge suppression, check to see that your model is specifically designed for electronics. It's important to look carefully at the specifications on the suppresser's box because all suppressers are not created equally. If you are still using a dial-up modem, or have a DSL connection, you want to be sure the suppresser blocks electricity that can come in from the phone lines, too. ABC Computer will only sell surge suppressors that meet at least the minimum requirements for this area.

All the CyberPower surge suppressers that we sell include an equipment protection guarantee that covers components damaged if the device fails to do its thing. That's a smart idea. No matter what suppresser you buy though, be sure to unplug both the suppresser and modem line during a lightening storm, and remember, suppresser components do wear out, so replace them every couple of years.

If you want to ensure that your computer gets the cleanest power possible, it's time to invest in a power conditioner. In addition to providing surge suppression, a power conditioner also "cleans" any dirty power that passes through. The end result is that your computer gets a consistent and reliable power supply. As the price difference between power conditioners and UPS systems have decreased, ABC Computer recommends using a UPS as a power conditioner.

A UPS takes the benefits of a power conditioner and adds one more important feature: a battery backup system. In other words, if the power goes out, your computer will continue to run off the battery, giving you the opportunity to save documents and cleanly shut down your computer. Many UPS devices have software that integrates into Windows XP and will cleanly shut down your computer in the event of a power outage.

Rather than spend a fortune on a UPS that can run your whole system, it is recommend to get one that can support your computer and monitor, and then plug everything else into a separate surge suppresser.