A quick quiz to determine your susceptibility to power problems...

According to a study by IBM, more than 120 disturbances hit a typical computer in a typical month! Some have imperceptible effects. Others cause data loss and expensive repairs. Take this easy quiz to see if you are at average, above average, or high risk.

(Click the appropriate buttons and submit; we'll tally your risk factor.)

Experience is your best indicator of whether a particular site is more at risk than others.
How frequent are brownouts or blackouts? Risk Factor
Chronic - greater than 12 per year 300
Frequent - greater than 3 per year 80
Infrequent - less than 3 per year 50

Overloaded or poor wiring is a major cause of power problems. Wiring systems in many older buildings were not designed to handle the demands of today's office equipment.
Building age: Risk Factor
Over ten years 100
Between 5 and 10 years 80
Under 5 years 50

Underground power distribution suffers fewer problems than pole linked sources, which are subject to the hazards of tree branches, auto accidents, and curious animals.
Utility supplied by: Risk Factor
Above-ground poles 100
Underground wiring 10

Studies have shown that as much as 50% of power problems can be tied to the local work environment. The innocent looking copy machine or laser printer may be responsible for data loss on your computer. An elevator on the other side of the wall may cause lock-ups every time a courier arrives!
Office equipment in proximity: Risk Factor
Heavy Machinery / Motors 200
Copiers / Laser printers 150
None 20

The same lightning and surge events that cause damaging utility line transients can also cause power problems to reach your equipment through the "back door" on serial, telephone/modem and LAN connections
Connections to Modem and Peripherals: Risk Factor
Modem, serial, and network connections 200
Modem connection only 80
No connection/Stand alone 50

Advanced network and multi-tasking operating systems depend on cache memory.
This approach, while faster, is more volatile.
Operating System: Risk Factor
Network (NetWare, Windows NT) 100
Stand-alone Multi-tasking (OS/2,Unix,Windows 95) 80
Stand alone single-tasking (DOS, Windows 3.1) 50

As a network or multi-user system grows, the points of susceptibility also increase. The design of a LAN can also influence its susceptibility to power problems, as a cluster-oriented LAN may be unaffected by problems that bring down a LAN on a backbone.
Size of system: Risk Factor
More than 10 users 100
Between 5 and 10 users 80
Less than 5 users 50

Rural sites are notorious for bad power. As common sense dictates, the farther power travels, the greater the chance of a disturbance along the way.
Distance from utility provider: Risk Factor
More than 200 miles 100
Less than 200 miles 80

Lightning is perhaps the most dramatic reminder of the susceptibility of computers to damage and data loss. Lightning and surges go hand in hand with brown-outs and blackouts.

(Refer to the picture below to find the average number of lightning storms your area experiences each year)
Storms per year: Risk Factor
More than 30 300
Between 20 and 30 100
Less than 20 50

Lightning Map

As populations grow and additional generating facilities aren't built, rolling brownouts become a definite reality.

(Refer to the picture below to find the estimated percentage Undercapacity of power suppliers in your area)
Utility demand: Risk Factor
More than 10% Undercapacity 200
More than 5% Undercapacity 100
Less than 5% Undercapacity 80

Undercapacity Map

After finishing the quiz, click the "Calculate Risk" button below to find your total Risk Factor.
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