The most Complete Power protection for Laptops & Notebooks

The most Complete Power protection for Laptops & Notebooks

The most damaging power condition to laptops is sustained over voltage.  Spikes & Surges are also a risk for Laptops and can cause catastrophic results by damaging the charger, main laptop or corrupting data.

(for a complete list of power problems, definitions and illustration, refer to Illustrated Power Problems)

The Sollatek NotebookGuard (NBG) is a complete simple & effective protection solution. As it detects over voltage - whether for a brief period or sustained for seconds, minutes or hours -it will disconnect the power and will only reconnect  when the mains returns to  a safe level. This Automatic Voltage Switcher (AVS) function is present in all Sollatek's Volteshield range of products. 

During this time, the Laptop will use its own battery to carry on working safely. This in effect, will isolate ALL power problems from the laptop and ensure safe operation. The Laptop's batteries in combination with the NotebookGuard's  AVS function work like a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) at a fraction of the cost and, as the unit is very small & light, can be carried in the same case as the laptop.

During Transient Spikes & Surges which could also produce serious damage to the laptop. The NBG will fully absorb these without interruption and thereby fully protecting the Laptop.

There are similar model in the field but none have the Sollatek AVS function. Some do add  line/data protection socket, however  as vast majority of laptop users depend on wifi, omitting this from the NBG ensures that it reaches the 99% consumer at the most affordable cost. The protection priority is against mains power interruptions, voltage fluctuations, over voltage, surges & spikes.

go to the Sollatek NotebookGuard page 

For product evaluation and technical bloggers, please contact Sollatek 

Even a Rose can be Faked!

In the week before Valentine’s Day 2008, Customs authorities in the main airports of six EU countries were on high alert, checking thousands of boxes of commercially grown cut roses from South America and other target countries. Some 20 shipments were confiscated. Either the roses were grown without the breeders’ permission, infringing their plant rights and trade marks, or they were actually fake, using the brand names of existing genuine rose varieties.

Since 1999, Sollatek has been suffering with counterfeits, which almost entirely emanate from China. However, our research shows that despite these copycats imitating our hard work and development, our customer base remains loyal to us.

First and foremost, Sollatek appreciate the importance of safety and our products are tested to the highest level to ensure Sollatek products safe and reliable. With Sollatek, our consumers are in safe hands. Counterfeits use poor components, compromising on quality, this means compromising on safety. Such a compromise could be fatal risking electrical fires. One simple example, modern standards insist on the plastic enclosure of products being made from flame-retardant material. Counterfeit products are hardly ever made from this (as it tends to be far more expensive). So in the event of an accidental short-circuit, they could easily catch fire. A catastrophic result that Sollatek would never risk.

Consumers recognise quality and fakes are always of inferior quality, no matter how good the cosmetic appearance is or how closely identifiable it is to an original Sollatek product. Poor quality can be either at component level, where the key functions boasted by the original Sollatek are lacking, or where key specifications are incorrectly used. For example, a Sollatek Switcher will disconnect at 260-265 on high voltage in order to protect an appliance. The fake might miss out this function entirely, or have it set at completely the wrong level.

Whilst many (if not all!) counterfeits copy the original manufacturer’s packaging and the service and warranty promise, the customer will always be left disappointed when the counterfeit fails. When this happens, the retailer selling the counterfeit won’t be able to deliver on this promise.

Genuine Sollatek products are sold through authorised resellers, who are able to meet the full warranty commitment made at the point of sale.

So, how easy is it to spot a copycat or avoid fakes? Some fakes are notoriously difficult to spot. Fakes can also improve their shortcomings in appearance over time and become more difficult to differentiate form the genuine product. However, there are telltale signs:

• Low quality packaging - the first thing to look out for. Sollatek’s products are well packaged to protect the product.

• Misspelt logos, words, company name

• The vendor (and the biggest clue). Genuine Sollatek products will be sold at authorised distributor outlets only.

For all the latest listings of authorised sellers and distributors of Sollatek products, please check www.sollatek.com 

Remember, say no to fakes and always insist on genuine Sollatek products.

STAY ORIGINAL 

Illustrated Power Problems

Power problems and their associated causes


All electrical and electronic equipment, connected to the mains supply is at risk of being damaged from spikes, surges, lightning, power cuts, brown-outs, power-cuts (blackouts), power back surges, and over-voltage. The following is a summary of the main types of power problems, causes and how these affect electrical and electronic equipment.

Spikes/Surge: Very short, (one millisecond) event of very high surge in voltage to thousands of volts and amps. Spikes are common in all parts of the world and repeated exposure to spikes will damage electronic equipment and corrupt data.

What causes it? Switching on/off of nearby equipment, lightning, motors starting etc.

RFI (Radio Frequency Interference)/Noise: High frequency disturbances that occur within a short period of time (milliseconds). RFI & noise are very common in all parts of the world and are the main cause of data corruption.


What causes it? Generated by high frequency noise from nearby equipment like TV, radio equipment, transmitters, mobile phones, switching on/off of certain loads, fluorescent lights, motor speed controls, light dimmers.

High/Over-Voltage: Long duration (milliseconds, seconds, minutes, hours or days) rise in the voltage above acceptable limits. Depending on the level of the over-voltage, the damage can be instantaneous, severe and irreparable.



What causes it? On return of mains supply after power cuts, under-sized utility oscillating between periods of brown-outs and over-voltage or accidental (e.g. accidental connection between two phases).

Brown-Out / Under-Voltage: Long duration of low voltage (milliseconds to seconds, minutes, hours or days). Very common in parts of the world especially where the power utilities are over-stretched. Prolonged and frequent brownouts cause the equipment to malfunction or not work at all. Repeated episodes are certain to cause damage. Motors and compressors (and therefore fridges, freezers, coolers, air-conditioners and pumps) are especially at risk. In time, damage is certain.

What causes it? Most commonly an over-stretched utility, especially in areas of poor power distribution infra-structure and remote areas. Common in dry seasons where water is used for electricity generation.

Lightning: Direct or nearby strikes can cause minor problems or severe disturbances and damage. Lightning produces spikes/surges, over-voltage or power cuts.

What causes it? The surge is generated by either a direct hit, or indirectly striking underground or overhead lines and transmitting high surges to connected equipment in nearby buildings. For more information, come back soon.

Power-cuts: Common in every country in the world, especially in areas of frequent voltage problems. Sudden loss of power can cause damage ranging from corruption of data to mechanical faults as equipment is stopped while in operation.

What causes it? Power or sub station failure, breakdown in the distribution network, or simply a plug being pulled out accidentally.

Power-Back Surges: These typically occur when power returns after a power-cut and connected equipment receives a surge of electricity at an over-voltage level, which can be very damaging (see above).

What causes it? Power back surges are created by the utility, when it restores supply at an above normal voltage in order to compensate for the demand as connected equipment re-starts simultaneously.

Voltage Regulators and Stabilisers - A comparison between Solid State and Servo

A Choice between Solid State & Servo-type Automatic Voltage Regulators (Stabilisers) 

Voltage regulators stabilise the voltage when it fluctuates, up or down. They are essential whenever reliable power is needed or when normal operation of electrical or electronic equipment is disrupted by the variations.

An ideal solution would be a fit & forget solution. One that requires no maintenance and no human intervention once installed. It should be an extension of your normal electrical infra structure.

Solid state stabilisers are just that, SOLID STATE. No moving parts, and no maintenance will be required. Servo stabilisers however, contain a motorised element. A motor has carbon brushes and these can get eroded or even dust and particles can interfere with their normal operation. They require regular attention and maintenance. Not a fit & forget solution. 

Servo stabilisers are very old technology. By the inherent nature of their design, they provide a fine output control. Their output accuracy is often as tight as 0.5% but is this essential? No! Most electrical utilities around the world can not provide or promise better than +-/5%. 

Historically, the voltage supplied in the UK (which is one of the best around the world today)  is set at 240V and the supply range is between 226-254V.  Many electrical distribution networks have been put in place to deliver electricity within this range.  Since 1995, steps have been taken to harmonise the UK’s supply specification to 400/230v -10% +6%, which is close to Europe’s supplied voltage.  This remains the current UK position.

Electricity Quality and Supply Regulations (EQS) will harmonise the supply across Europe at 400/230 +/-10% (253V-207V). EN 50160 states that voltage can vary around the nominal voltage in a band of +/-10% for minimally 95% of the time (measured with 10-min integration interval). For LV customers only a 100%-of-time limit is set at +10%/-15% of nominal voltage. 

So why insist on +/-1% or better...No reason whatsover. Most electrical and electronic equipment have a tolerance of far greater than this.

Here is a general comparison of the two different technologies;