PC Hardware A Beginner’s Guide

(^608) PC Hardware: A Beginner’s Guide
Because they are typically expensive, few PC users use a true line conditioner and use the
line conditioning capabilities of a surge suppressor or uninterruptible power supply
(UPS) instead. Most line conditioners also provide surge suppression, but they are not
designed to provide standby power like a UPS (see the section “Uninterruptible Power
Supply (UPS)” later in the chapter).
Figure 23-2. A power controller is a surge suppressor that allows the user to control each electrical
outlet separately. Photo courtesy of American Power Conversion Corporation
Figure 23-3. A power line conditioner filters electrical noise on the power line in addition to surge
suppression. Photo courtesy of American Power Conversion Corporation