Leaving Computer on overnight

melancholly

My computer goes into a standby mode when it's shutdown - it never goes off completely. I didn't notice until there was a power surge late at night and it went bang (really loudly!) and the room smelt of smoke (cue hysterical fit at OH that my computer had blown up!) .... the PSU blew up and needed to be replaced, no other damage though.... if you are going to leave it on all the time, I'd put in a surge protector to avoid anything like that happening (or just use one to be safe anyway!)

tigermatt

melancholly wrote:

I'd put in a surge protector to avoid anything like that happening (or just use one to be safe anyway!)

Or use the one in the UPS.

intel

tigermatt wrote:

Or use the one in the UPS.

If UPS is available.... :beer:

Ember999

I may be a dizzy bimbo but what is UPS? I thought it was a postal service in the USA lol

intel

Uninteruptable Power Supply.. Backup Power Supply like a battery or generator
that regulates the current flowing to equipment to prevent spikes and brown outs
and blackouts thus giving you surge protection and enough time to shut a PC down
without loss of data.

tigermatt

Ember999 wrote:

I may be a dizzy bimbo but what is UPS? I thought it was a postal service in the USA lol

A UPS is a Uninterruptible Power Supply - basically a battery which charges from the mains and your PC runs from the battery. Means when the power goes off your PC doesn't crash, some more expensiveones can talk to your PC and shut it down properly when the power fails, but the power doesn't tend to fail for very long so a 45 min one is usually fine.

I have one connected to my server and it saved it from crashing numerous times. I wouldn't connect one to my normal pc though because there is no need for it.

tigermatt

intel wrote:

Uninteruptable Power Supply.. Backup Power Supply like a battery or generator
that regulates the current flowing to equipment to prevent spikes and brown outs
and blackouts thus giving you surge protection and enough time to shut a PC down
without loss of data.

You beat me to it :rolleyes: :beer:

Ember999

intel wrote:

Uninteruptable Power Supply.. Backup Power Supply like a battery or generator
that regulates the current flowing to equipment to prevent spikes and brown outs
and blackouts thus giving you surge protection and enough time to shut a PC down
without loss of data.

Thanks Intel, that's 2 things I have learned from you this week. I am now using 'Hybernate' and not risking fire by leaving computer on all night and I now know what UPS means. I am feeling very intellingent now

Ember999

tigermatt wrote:

A UPS is a Uninterruptible Power Supply - basically a battery which charges from the mains and your PC runs from the battery. Means when the power goes off your PC doesn't crash, some more expensiveones can talk to your PC and shut it down properly when the power fails, but the power doesn't tend to fail for very long so a 45 min one is usually fine.

I have one connected to my server and it saved it from crashing numerous times. I wouldn't connect one to my normal pc though because there is no need for it.

Luckily I use surge protectors on all my computers so I don't think I need to worry but I am pretty sure my desktop doesn't have this, however as my laptop has a battery I am assuming it does?

Joe_Bloggs

@Ember999
UPS is un-interruptable power supply perhaps also Useless Parcel Service. Your computer will have minutes to hours to keep working when the mains supply has failed.
On a postal note UPS have UK operations. They have little or no clues regarding import duty. They often turn up, unannounced, and demand a cheque. They then seize the goods and eventually have to deliver them again.
J_B.