Power shortage is always a potential problem when working on your computer. When playing a game, for example, you might not always be able to save your progress every five minutes, nor does anyone do so when it is possible. Some people just forget to save their game until they exit it. Now, imagine you have been playing the game for three or four hours without saving and then a power outage happens. Of course, you will be irritated at the fact that, once the power is restored, you will have to replay those three or four hours of the game and basically waste your time.

The power outages are nowadays happening more and more frequently. This is not due to the quality of the electricity provider, but because of the fact that there are too many households attached to the power grid. Once the grid is stretched to thin, it will “snap”, and a power outage will occur. These “snaps” are usually unannounced and can take anyone by surprise. This is why purchasing a UPS is generally a good idea when considering the ways to protect the things you do on your computer.

What does UPS do?

What UPS does is that it provides the power from its own source for another half an hour once the main power supply has been extinguished. This should give you enough time to save your work, your game, or whatever it is that you were doing on your computer, thus avoiding unnecessary damage and losses to your files. Also, it can prevent the damage to your computer hardware, since unstable electrical grid which supplies various levels of power (160-260V) can seriously damage your hardware and end-up costing you a great amount of money for replacement components.

Now, when talking about obtaining a UPS system for your computer, you have two options. The first is to buy a brand new UPS unit. This is generally a good idea, but the problem is that sometimes these systems can be quite expensive for the benefits that they provide. The other is to look for a refurbished UPS.

What are refurbished UPS systems?

A refurbished UPS system is a used UPS that has been returned to the seller, has passed the necessary tests and has been looked at thoroughly, and is now being re-sold. The reasons for the return of the unit might be that it was returned because it was on a lease, or was substituted in the process of upgrading or downgrading the computer system. There are other causes, as well, but the important thing is that the seller guarantees that the unit will function properly once it is purchased as a refurbished unit.

What to know when purchasing a refurbished UPS

There are few important things that you need to know when out shopping for a refurbished UPS unit. These things might help you decide what to buy, and whether the purchase you made is a good one.

It is recommended to check whether the vendor of the refurbished UPS units is reputable. Ask around on internet forums and blogs to see if anyone has had any experience in dealing with this vendor, and what are their opinions. See whether the vendor installs new batteries and how long is the warranty provided for the unit. Also, be sure to check for shipping costs, as these can provide substantial increase in the price paid for the unit.

When talking about the price, it can be a lot less for a refurbished unit, than for a new one. If you find a good deal, you can save up to 50% of the new UPS unit value.

There is a common myth that refurbished batteries for the UPS exists. This is not true. The batteries for the UPS cannot be refurbished once they have been extinguished. They can only be recycled and made into completely new batteries. If someone is offering you a UPS with “refurbished” batteries, be sure to steer clear, since it is a scam.

The refurbished UPS units can prove to be quite a deal for you, since it can save you a lot of money and precious files, at the same time. It is recommended that, when looking for a suitable UPS solution, you give the refurbished units a try.

Author bio:
Alex is a passionate technology researcher and analyst for High Tech Battery Solutions. At the moment his main focus are UPS devices and related backup systems.

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