Macro
07-28-2009, 09:21 PM
Finally took the leap and invested in a new desktop computer.
Bare with me. The question I have has to do with my available power. Just a little background on where I'm at right now with this.
The house I call home now was built in 1958. I believe the code changed in 1962 requiring the outlets to be grounded. This house, other than a room addition and kitchen and bathroom, was never upgraded. All outlets in the bedrooms are as they were when installed, 2 prong, non-grounded outlets. I tested the metal boxes, confirmed: not grounded.
Surge Protectors are useless unless grounded. Being basically bedridden because of my back for the last 2 years leaves me unable to do the climbing/crawling through the crawl space below the house or up in the attic to do what I have done many times in my youth to run required wiring. So simplest solution no longer a possibility.
It has been suggested by the Grand Poopah of Electrical Mysteries at Home Depot that an UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) would instantly recognize any spike/variation, either up or down, and take over, protecting my new computer and components by maintaining consistent, unvarying power.
“Raymond” at Fry’s, agree, but his help was limited to mumbling that I should get one that’s “1500VA”. The only input he got from me for him to base this expert opinion on was me saying, “I have a computer and do not have access to grounded outlets” to which he replied, “Gotta go to aisle 2A, get one with 1500VA, get one with 1500VA. Uh-oh…three minutes til Wapner!” and he shuffled off to the Television Department.
Finally! the cry for help. As I see it, I have two options:
In a perfect world, call in an electrician to ground the outlets needed and bring this all up to code. Not being my house and unable to work for so long, I am not able to toss the possibly large amount of coin required by this solution.
Is a UPS a even realistic solution? Do they provide the protection I'm after and perform as I've been told and described above? Or is it not a practical solution at all. (I'm gonna try and limit this additional expense to under 2 Benjies.
Thanks for any input/suggestions.
Bare with me. The question I have has to do with my available power. Just a little background on where I'm at right now with this.
The house I call home now was built in 1958. I believe the code changed in 1962 requiring the outlets to be grounded. This house, other than a room addition and kitchen and bathroom, was never upgraded. All outlets in the bedrooms are as they were when installed, 2 prong, non-grounded outlets. I tested the metal boxes, confirmed: not grounded.
Surge Protectors are useless unless grounded. Being basically bedridden because of my back for the last 2 years leaves me unable to do the climbing/crawling through the crawl space below the house or up in the attic to do what I have done many times in my youth to run required wiring. So simplest solution no longer a possibility.
It has been suggested by the Grand Poopah of Electrical Mysteries at Home Depot that an UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) would instantly recognize any spike/variation, either up or down, and take over, protecting my new computer and components by maintaining consistent, unvarying power.
“Raymond” at Fry’s, agree, but his help was limited to mumbling that I should get one that’s “1500VA”. The only input he got from me for him to base this expert opinion on was me saying, “I have a computer and do not have access to grounded outlets” to which he replied, “Gotta go to aisle 2A, get one with 1500VA, get one with 1500VA. Uh-oh…three minutes til Wapner!” and he shuffled off to the Television Department.
Finally! the cry for help. As I see it, I have two options:
In a perfect world, call in an electrician to ground the outlets needed and bring this all up to code. Not being my house and unable to work for so long, I am not able to toss the possibly large amount of coin required by this solution.
Is a UPS a even realistic solution? Do they provide the protection I'm after and perform as I've been told and described above? Or is it not a practical solution at all. (I'm gonna try and limit this additional expense to under 2 Benjies.
Thanks for any input/suggestions.