[Hidden-tech] what uses electricity when plugged in?

[Matt Kostek]

I have received a few questions about what a UPS is, I will go over it 
real quick.

An UPS or Uninterrupted  Power Supply is pretty much a surge protector 
with a battery backup, so let's say you leave your system on all of the 
time and the power goes out, most UPS Systems have software you can 
install which will shut down your computer properly, so your system is 
less likely to suffer from a power surge. Also the battery doubles as a 
low-grade power conditioner which means your equipment receives proper 
voltage from the battery, and the battery is recharged by the outlet. 
Also in case of a nasty enough power surge, it will fry the battery not 
your equipment, a bad enough surge will fry the equipment as well, but 
it takes a lot more than it would take to outdo a surge protector on its 
own. Also UPS systems "claim" they save electricity, but I have been 
unable to verify that.

-Matt