Don't plug a heater or other high current draw appliances into a UPS:
With winter upon us I wanted to remind you not to plug a heater or other high current draw appliances into a UPS (uninterruptable power supply). A UPS is a 'box' that contains a battery and some electronics to allow for a limited amount of 'runtime' for your computer if the power goes off. They have the ability to deliver only a relatively small amount of current (stated in its VA/Watt rating) anything beyond that will overload the UPS, shut everything off and possibly cause damage.
Examples of equipment that should *NOT* be plugged into a UPS
- Laser printers
- Heaters
- Air conditioners
- Photo copiers
- Paper shredders
- Vacuum cleaners
- Kettles/jugs, anything that cooks or heats food
- Hair driers, curling irons
The only things that should generally be plugged into the UPS are computers, networking equipment (switches routers etc) another other small sensitive electronic equipment such as EFTPOS terminals and similar.
Plug your 'high current draw' devices direct into a power-point/wall socket, some experts suggest these should not even be plugged into a power board either for fire safety reasons.