Issue link: https://docs.hic.us/i/403552
Make sure your chosen work area has heating and air conditioning. Digital electronics really hate high temperatures (above 80 degrees). And, of course, avoid damp environments. It's bad for your equipment, as well as your merchandise. Avoid having carpet in your work area. You will never be able to keep it clean. Embroidery generates a lot of lint and trimming leaves behind small bits of thread. In addition, carpet can generate static electricity, which may be harmful to electronic equipment such as computers. Phone Systems Invest in a separate business phone line!!! This is a must. People will call you 24 hours a day if they can, especially if they know your business is at home. While you're at it, consider a separate line for your FAX machine also. It's cheap, and much better than sharing the line with your "voice" system. Obtain an answering machine, or better yet, voice-mail through your phone company. Electrical Concerns Know your electrical circuits. If your machine and/or computer receptacle is sharing electricity with other equipment in your house, it could cause problems. Be aware of GFI circuits. These devices are much more sensitive than standard circuit breakers, and "trip" quite easily. (They are supposed to) They are commonly found in areas where moisture can be a problem such as bathrooms, garages, basements and outdoors. If possible, have a separate circuit set up for your embroidery equipment. (Consult an electrician.) Also, invest in a uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Several household items cause frequent electrical surges, which can affect the electrical flow everywhere in the house, regardless of which branch circuit it is located on. Examples: Refrigerator, air conditioner, well pump. A UPS will serve as a surge suppressor and filter, thereby isolating your equipment from these damaging power characteristics. A UPS also works serves as a limited backup power source, should you have a power failure. The UPS plugs into a wall receptacle and your equipment plugs into the UPS. If the main power should go out, backup power will begin to flow from the UPS to your equipment, instantaneously. However, the UPS is essentially a battery, so there is a time limit on how long power will be provided. It was not designed to operate as a generator, rather its purpose is to protect the machinery from the harmful effects of a sudden blackout. In such a situation, you will need to manually stop the machine and turn it off, before the UPS runs out of power. But this is much gentler on your equipment, plus it gives you time to save any computer files that you had open at the time of the power failure. Physical Concerns www.hsi.us care@hsi.us 31