Did you know a home or office could experience more than 100 power surges a month?
Over the last 40 years, research commissioned by IBM and others has shown that the average home or office experiences more than 100 power surges per month. Most consumers only think of lightning strikes, but surges come from a variety of sources. Air conditioning systems, kitchen appliances, and other devices that draw large amounts of current when turned on can cause small, repetitive surges that wear down vulnerable devices like big screen televisions, projectors, computers and AV equipment. Two perfect examples are someone in a household turns on a blow dryer and the lights flicker, or an air conditioner kicks on in heat of summer and the whole house shudders. These are both instances when electric-powered devices are being threatened.
Power Protection Isn’t Just About Surge Protectors
Many consumers think that a surge protector is enough to protect their most valuable devices. However, surge protectors are just the first line of defense against the chronic surges that wear down devices. Your customers with in-home offices, home theaters, or even their own small offsite businesses need more protection than a basic surge protector can provide. Uninterrupted Power Supplies (UPS) and battery backups, like an APC BE360G, combined with power management systems, module protectors, smart outlets and more can work together, building a safety net for all electronics in a home or office.
So what exactly do your customers need?
Power Protection Is More Than One Size Fits All
Power protection devices come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can drastically vary in price all the way from super-economical options like the 1 outlet surge protector from Axis to the high-end APC Smart-UPS System. Knowing what type of devices your customer is protecting is critical to finding the right solution at the right price point. It’s also helpful to understand that your customer is likely to be a DIY’er who will be installing the power protection devices themselves.
Basic Homes
For your customers with basic power protection needs, the first line of defense is a surge protector. These customers will be protecting TVs, computers, tablets, smartphones, Internet modems, basic routers and likely a variety of home appliances. Encourage them to look for surge protectors that are UL-listed. UL-listed surge protectors are safer in homes and provide added protection for devices, especially from transient surges. Some surge protectors even take their job one step further with proven conveniences other than just protection. The Monster 7-outlet PowerCenter with GreenPower eliminates energy waste when connected components are not in use saving your customers money while still protecting their devices.
With a minimal amount of installation and setup, your customers can also utilize a remote power management system. The Panamax BlueBOLT® Remote Power Management System combines a BlueBOLT® Wireless Ethernet Bridge, and a 2-Outlet Smart Plug into single system. This basic system allows customers to access their home power systems via a smartphone application. If there are signs of danger and surges from lightning, the power management system can shut off power to protected electronics remotely from almost anywhere.
Home Offices
Customers who are looking to protect multiple PCs, printers, scanners, high-speed Internet connections, personal servers, or multiple power lines will need to bump up from the basic power protection options above. Power management systems are a great start and can be augmented with green power solutions. Combining great protection with green features that save money, the 8-Outlet J-Type Rack-Mountable Energy-Saving Power Conditioner with Battery Backup provides telephone line protection, coaxial line protection, and more. The green application uses switching outlets that turn off and on based upon the power use of the master device.
Home offices also need UPS systems and battery backups such as the Panamax 9-Outlet MB850 with five battery powered and surge protected outlets and 4-surge protected only outlets. A UPS system gives customers a sense of security that their computer can be shut down normally, without crashing due to a power outage. And if it’s a short term outage, work can continue without interruption.
To add safety and functionality to a home office, your customers can also install USB compatible wall mounts, like the GE JAS14627 that features two outlets and two USB ports. These handy devices provide USB charging from the wall without requiring any adapters.
Home Theaters
Home theater owners know that their investment needs major protection. Home theater devices that aren’t properly protected are not only vulnerable to power surges, but they can also suffer from decreased performance levels. Get these customers started with the DIY solution of a Home Theater Power Center™. The 6-Outlet Power Center™ from Monster Power® is a UL-Listed power protection solution with patented T Monster T2™ technology. This device provides great protection from surges and helps prevent interference between different elements in a home theater system.
If you’re installing a custom system for a client, an A/V Distribution System can be used to eliminate RFI/EMI noise filtration. Remember to look for a UL-Listed solution here as well, as these systems carry current from circuit boxes.
The Final Word
Power protection isn’t always glamorous, but neither is car insurance—until you need it. From making homes safer, saving energy, and keeping expensive electronics functioning at peak performance, power protection is a small upfront investment that provides valuable peace of mind. It also helps you increase your business’s bottom line while providing a service that most consumers don’t even consider. So be sure to help your customers identify what needs to be protected and go from there.
If you need more information on power protection options, be sure to check out large selection of power protection options. Petra offers a variety of solutions for any of your customer’s needs from the leading power protection manufacturers in the world. To talk to a power professional expert in person, call us and ask for a Power Pro at 1-800-443-6975.