Tripp Lite Products Protect Against Lightning Strikes, Power Shortages And Other Summer Power Problems

    CHICAGO, May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Weather Service has
 forecasted above-normal temperatures for many regions of the United States
 this summer. Higher temperatures will produce a greater demand for air
 conditioning, which leads to heavier loads on the nation's power grids-which
 may bring about widespread power shortages.
     All across the United States, there have been numerous reports of
 electrical power systems pushed to the limit due to lengthy and acute power
 outages during the past three summers.  Rolling blackouts have struck San
 Francisco, San Diego and other California cities, costing millions of dollars
 in losses to business productivity. During one such blackout in New York City
 over 680,000 customers, including 20% of the Manhattan population, went
 without power. To dodge the blackout bullet, some states have been forced to
 cut power to big industrial customers to protect its power grid. Fortunately,
 there are simple ways for people to protect their homes and valuable
 equipment.
     In Chicago, where power outages recently left thousands of Chicagoans
 without electricity, Mayor Richard M. Daley acknowledged that much of the
 city's power transmission equipment "has been overloaded for years-just like a
 car that is driven too hard." When thousands of high-watt electrical devices
 such as air conditioning unit or power tools are switched on or turned up at
 around the same time, it can prompt a reduction or sag in voltage on the power
 line.
     These under-voltages, or brownouts, last a few seconds or longer, and can
 wreak havoc on sensitive computing equipment, causing problems ranging from
 microprocessor delay and system crashes to not-so subtle equipment
 degradation. In fact brownouts account for 87% of all summer power
 disturbances according to a study by Bell Labs. In some areas of the country,
 such as Florida, brownouts occur up to four or five times a day, says Dusty
 Furlong, a Tripp Lite sales executive who resides in Florida, which she calls
 the "Lightning and Power Problem Capital of the United States."
     "What people need to remember is, even if an under-voltage lasts for a few
 seconds it can cause failure in the many electrical appliances, gadgets and
 electronics that many of us are dependent on," says Furlong. "We're all
 familiar with the experience of returning to our homes to find that clocks,
 VCRs and other digital equipment have to be reset because power was cut for a
 second or two. And we've all been inconvenienced by phone line outages during
 a storm. During summer, we're simply more vulnerable to power fluctuations.
 The best solution is to install a power protection device in the home or
 business -- either a surge suppressor or battery backup UPS System, depending
 on the situation."
     To guard against a complete loss of utility power, one should consider an
 uninterruptible power supply or UPS System. With its battery backup, this
 device can instantaneously provide enough power in the event of a power
 failure, so that open computer files can be saved and an orderly equipment
 shutdown can be performed. These UPS units also protect against surges and
 line noise, making them an ideal form of protection for any critical equipment
 that needs to be supported-even for a few minutes-during a blackout.
     Tripp Lite offers a wide range of UPS Systems from basic standby units to
 highly sophisticated models that include microprocessor-controlled network
 power management and daisy-chainable external battery packs for extending
 runtimes on mission-critical systems. The company is uniquely positioned to
 supply the burgeoning computer market with high quality power protection
 equipment and Tripp Lite products are recognized worldwide as an essential
 add-on to computer installations.
     Surge suppressors are the best line of defense for all electronics against
 surges, spikes and line noise-and are a relatively small investment (ranging
 from about $8 to a little over $100). A surge suppressor can effectively
 dissipate the charge of a bolt of lightning which, without any resistance, can
 immediately send 10,000 volts of electricity through power cables straight
 into a household appliance, PC or server. Also, a quality surge suppressor can
 significantly reduce electrical noise or static; it can shield power-sensitive
 equipment like a TV or stereo system from AC line interruptions caused by a
 vacuum cleaner or power-saw operating on the same circuit. A surge suppressor
 is well worth the money spent when one considers the cost of replacing
 valuable equipment.
     Tripp Lite is the maker of the #1 selling surge suppressor in the world:
 the Isobar(R), with over 14 million sold. The Isobar series, distinguished by
 its exclusive all-metal housing and protective isolated filter banks, includes
 up to 8 outlets, with some models including modem/fax and/or coaxial jacks to
 safeguard satellite or pay-per-view connections. Tripp Lite also offers a
 reliable, economy-line of surge suppressors called the Protect It! series.
 
     About Tripp Lite
     As the world's leading manufacturer of power protection equipment, Tripp
 Lite's innovations include the world's first UPS system designed specifically
 for personal computers, and the world's most trusted premium surge suppressor
 -- the Isobar(R) -- with more than 14 million in use. Tripp Lite maintains the
 highest level of ready-to-ship inventory in the industry with more than 1,000
 different products, including UPS systems, surge suppressors, line
 conditioners, power inverters, cables, connectivity products and network
 management accessories. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, Tripp Lite maintains a
 global presence with fully-staffed offices worldwide.
     Enhanced service and innovative products have been Tripp Lite standards
 for more than 80 years. Additional information, including a list of Tripp
 Lite's sales offices and authorized reseller partners, can be found by
 visiting Tripp Lite's Web site: www.tripplite.com .
 
 

SOURCE  Tripp Lite