Chris Rye was recently reminded how temporary reductions in voltage can be devastating to computers. This computer at his workplace required a new motherboard due to brown-outs. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

Unfortunately, Rye, a pilot at Simpson Air, couldn't get the computer started again.

"It wouldn't even boot up. It didn't get past that screen of script," Rye said.

A call went out to Fort Simpson computer technician Ivan Simons. He diagnosed the problem as a common computer malady: low voltage.

"The thing most damaging to a computer is low voltage. In other words, browning out and so on," Simons said. Many computer owners have surge protectors or power bars that prevent the computer from absorbing damaging spikes in power.

However, fewer consumers also own an uninterruptable power supply, which protects the computer from brown-outs, or periodic drops in voltage. Simons said he regularly repairs computers affected by brown-outs.

"In the last two months, I've had a dozen (computers) that varied from just having to replace the power supply to complete replacements -- just about every component was fried," he said.

Repeated exposure to low voltage not only harms the computer's hardware, it can also result in a complete loss of data, according to Simons.

Uninterruptable power supply units, which use a battery to keep steady voltage running to the computer, generally cost between $130-$200.

"I've had a huge run on them," Simons said, adding that the additional expense is often protecting a $2,000 investment in a home computer.