Imagine for second you're in a winning trade…and what the f**k? Your screen goes completely black.
The lights flicker on and off, your modem dies, and you’re completely blind to the market.
Has that ever happened to you? It is the worst!
There’s a fix for this and you NEED to have this fix if you are a serious trader.
What is a UPS?
It’s called a UPS, which stands for Uninterruptable Power Supply.
So what exactly is a UPS and why do you need one?
Think of it like this, a UPS is your line of defense. You plug your trading computer, your monitors, your modem and router into it… and boom, now you're protected.
Here’s what it does:
1. It’s a surge protector.
If lightning strikes near your house, or even if someone flips on the dryer and causes a voltage spike, your UPS will kick in and protect your computer.
Those kinds of random power surges and brownouts can fry your equipment. And trust me, fried gear mid-trade is not something you wanna deal with.
2. It’s a battery backup.
If the power goes out completely, the UPS flips over to the battery mode and keeps everything running. That means your computer, monitors, and internet stay up, giving you precious minutes to set a stop loss and adjust your trades, or to shut down safely.
How It Works
Inside the UPS is a gigantic battery and a voltage inverter. It constantly charges itself while sending clean and stable power to your computer. The second it detects any kind of power issue, it flips over and takes control.
Not All UPS Units Are Equal
Now listen… not all UPS units are built the same. Those $80 units you find at Walmart and Amazon, they’re built for your mom’s printer, not your multi-monitor trading computer.
Those might keep a basic computer and one monitor alive for a few minutes — just enough time to hit “save” and shut down. But we need more than that as traders.
What Traders Actually Need
We’re power users. You’ve got a high-end trading machine, at least one or two monitors, maybe six, plus your modem and router, don’t forget to plug those in. So we need a UPS that can handle all of that.
Eddie Z’s Recommendations
Here’s what I recommend:
Start with a high-end unit — at least 900 watts or what they call 1500 volt amps.
These bigger units have more outlets and longer battery life. We're talking 10 to 20 minutes of uptime. That’s plenty of time to place a stop order, manage your position, or safely shut down without panic.
And if you want even more protection? Run two UPS devices — split the load between them. That’s what pros do.
Bonus Tip: Connected Equipment Guarantee
When shopping for a UPS, some higher-end units offer what’s called a Connected Equipment Guarantee.
That means if anything that’s plugged into the UPS gets fried during a power event, the manufacturer will cover the cost to repair or replace it. But here’s the catch — save your receipts. You’ll need proof of what was connected.
Final Thoughts
Bottom line: If you’re serious about trading, one power outage in the middle of a trade can cost you thousands — or worse, cause you to make emotional decisions you’ll regret later on.
So, plug your computer, your modem, your router, and at least one monitor into a high-end UPS and sleep better knowing that your setup is protected.
If you haven’t already, grab the Complete Guide to Trading Computers — it’s totally free and packed with tips to help you fully optimize your trading setup.
Article Updated May 29, 2025.
