Protect your electronics from Power Interruptions - With hot weather on the way, we can also expect some thunderstorms and power interruptions.  We can sound like a broken record on this topic, but we'll say it again!  It's VERY important to make sure ALL your office electronics are protected by proper UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) units.  At the low end, units will protect you from uneven voltages and surges.  For servers, its absolutely critical to have a UPS with safe shutdown software so your server will not crash when the power goes out.  Also make sure all your network gear is protected (router, modem, switches).  For some critical equipment, you may want to invest in bigger batteries to keep the power on longer.  In general, no electronics equipment should be plugged directly into a wall outlet.

Don't forget that heat will affect your electronics - Servers typically run 24x7, so if the environment gets too warm, you'll greatly reduce the lifetime of your server.  Make sure your server closet is properly ventilated, and remember to keep your systems clear of dust which will clog the fans.  Remember your server needs to stay reasonably cool even after all the people leave the office! 

If you take your portable devices in the car with you, keep in mind that your car will get MUCH hotter than the outside temperature.  iPhones and iPADs have operating temperature ranges of 32-95 degrees F, and a safe storage range of only up to 113 degrees F.   Blackberry's and hard drives generally have operating ranges up to 122 degrees F, and digital camera specs typically call for storage below 120 degrees F.

On a hot day (80 degrees F), your inside car temperature can go up to 123 - 140 degrees F !  Your dashboard and seats can rise up to around 180 degrees to 200 degrees F.  Your car will heat up rapidly in the sun, so it's not a good idea to leave your electronics in the car for extended times.  I found an interesting experiment on line where the author measured temperature inside coolers (without the ice, as ice would lead to damaging condensation and humidity!)  so that may be a way to store expensive and sensitive equipment if you really need to.

Will you be going away on vacation to beat the heat?  If you're using Ekaru email, check out our short on-line video to show you how to set up an "out of office" reply to your incoming email.