UPS units can keep your gear on when the power goes out, so you can shut it off safely. (Panamax M1500-UPS shown)

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

If you've ever lost work on your computer when the power suddenly cut out, then you can appreciate the value of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). UPS components contain internal batteries that provide power to your equipment during temporary power outages. Typically, UPS components can provide power for a few minutes, long enough to ride out short blackouts or to save your work and shut down your system properly during prolonged outages.

Along with preventing lost data, a UPS can help extend the life of your gear. Many audio/video components are stressed by improper shutdown, which affects their performance and may shorten their operational lives.

Also, a UPS can prevent the loss of personalized settings in your audio/video components, such as channel programming with your satellite receiver, TV, or cable box. This is helpful for components that rely on an internal clock, such as a DVR or VCR.

Uninterrupted power is especially important for "big-screen" or rear-projection TVs. Many of these sets use a powerful bulb to create a picture. Because this bulb gets very hot, an internal fan runs for several minutes after the TV's turned off to cool the bulb down slowly and safely. A UPS component allows the cooling fan to run even if the power goes out suddenly, extending the life of the bulb.

Power regeneration units provide the cleanest possible power for the best audio/video performance.(PS Audio Power Plant Premier shown)

Power regeneration

Heavy usage elsewhere on the line, brownouts, and accumulated line noise can all affect the power coming into your house, sending an irregularly fluctuating current into your gear. High-performance electronics, such as flat-panel TVs and high-end DVD players, are extremely sensitive to these changes. Power regeneration smooths out these irregularities.

Rather than just filtering your house current and passing it on to your gear like a line conditioner, a power regenerator uses it to create its own power to send to your equipment. Incoming AC (alternating current) is converted to DC (direct current) to strip off electronic noise. The DC current is then regenerated as AC through circuitry that tightly controls the power flow, eliminating as much variation as possible. This regenerated AC power has virtually none of the noise or fluctuation of the original current, ensuring that your system gets clean, consistent power.

Additional features to look for

Your power protection component can offer benefits beyond surge protection and line conditioning. More advanced features include:

• Sequential outlet turn-on — First sends power to your playback components, like a tuner or DVD player, and then to your receiver or amplifier after a brief delay. This eliminates the infamous amplifier turn-on "thump," which can damage your speakers.
• Offset outlets for AC adapters — The bulky AC adapters that come with small devices like rechargers and game consoles requires only one outlet. When plugged in, they fully or partially cover the adjacent outlet, preventing its use. Offset outlets place additional space between the plugs to accommodate these larger "wall warts."
• Out-of-the-way mounting options — Some power protection units include hardware for mounting on a wall or a component rack.
• Additional phone line connection — Some components require connection to your phone line, such as a TiVo® recorder or satellite TV box. Many people don't realize that electricity can travel through a phone line as well as a power cord, and so often leave this "back door" open for catastrophic power spikes.
• Isolated outlets for digital sources — Reduces the high-frequency noise generated by digital equipment, such as DVD players and flat-panel TVs. The outlets are arranged in isolated banks — one for digital components, and the other for analog audio and video components, like receivers and amplifiers. This keeps interference from the digital components leaking through the outlet and interfering with the analog gear.