9 Power Problems
9 Power Problems that can harm your computers and corrupt your data!
Our approach to power protection revolves around the nine most common power problems present in any work environment. You can choose from a variety of power protection devices with varying levels of effectiveness and price that will shield critical data and equipment from some or all of the 9 power problems.
1. Power Failure - A Total Loss Of Utility Power
Power failures can be caused by a number of events:
- Lightning Strikes
- Downed power lines
- Grid over demands
- Natural disasters
- Accidents
Effect
- System crashes
Solution
Protect your critical equipment with a UPS!
Power failures are a familiar occurrence in today's energy-dependent world. Consistent power relies on a system of minutely timed events, the disruption of which can result in an outage. Even well-maintained systems can be affected by external problems. Well-prepared people can take precautions to protect themselves from the worst effects of an outage.
Not all power outages result in darkened rooms; sometimes the flickering of lights is enough to trigger an equipment outage. But a second is all it takes for some computers to lose the power necessary to keep running. During this outage, the computer may shut down and restart. When this happens, the computer's RAM resets and all of the information on the chip, including the files that were open at the time of the shutdown, are erased. In addition, the initial surge of power may build a charge that can damage the delicate components within the computer chips, disabling the computer.
The cost to repair the equipment, in lost money and productivity, can be high. For this reason, instead of saving all open files and shutting down your nonessential systems during thunderstorms and other potential outages, install a UPS that can protect your system from all 9 major power problems.
2. Power Sags - Short Term Low Voltage
Cause
- Triggered by the startup of large loads -Utility Switching -Utility equipment failure -Power service that's too small for the demand
Effect
- System Crashes
- Damaged hardware
Solution
Protect your critical equipment with a UPS!
Power Sag Definition: Power sags involve voltages 80 to 85 percent below normal for short periods of time (one or more cycles). Possible causes are heavy equipment being turned on, large electrical motors being started, and the switching of power mains (internal or utility). A power sag can have effects similar to those of a power surge, such as memory loss, data errors, flickering lights, and equipment shutoff.
3. Power Surge - (Spike) Short Term High Voltage Above 110% of Nominal
Cause
- It can be caused by a lightning strike and can send line voltages to levels in excess of 6000 volts. It can be triggered by a rapid reduction in power loads, heavy equipment being turned off, or utility switching. The results can potentially damage the hardware.
Effect
- A spike almost always results in data loss or hardware damage.
Solution
Protect your critical equipment with a UPS and TVSS
What is a Surge or Transient?
Surges, or transients, are brief overvoltage spikes or disturbances on a power waveform that can damage, degrade, or destroy electronic equipment within any home, commercial building, or manufacturing facility. Transients can reach amplitudes of tens of thousands of volts. Surges are measured in microseconds. The presence of sensitive electronic equipment such as computers, answering machines, microwaves, and other microprocessor-based equipment is growing exponentially in virtually every aspect of life. Surges can cause damage, resulting in:
- Equipment loss or damage
- Lost productivity (i.e. downtime)
- Other financial losses
What is a Transient Voltage Surge Suppression (TVSS)?
High Voltage Spike Definition: High voltage spikes occur when there is a sudden, rapid voltage peak of up to 6,000 volts with a duration of 100mS to 1/2cycle. These spikes are usually the result of nearby lightning strikes, but there can be other causes as well. The effects on vulnerable electronic systems can include loss of data and burned circuit boards.
TVSS is the technology designed to protect against the damaging effects of surges introduced to the electrical grid from a multitude of sources outside of your control (i.e. lightning, infrastructure, construction). The equipment is usually employed in a two-stage philosophy or a cascading design. The first stage starts at the entry point of the utility power. The second stage is at the point of use. There are many styles available for each stage with varying degree of features.
Why Use TVSS in Addition to a UPS?
UPS equipment is intended to protect the second stage of a cascading design. By neglecting the first stage of protection at the service entrance, you are increasing the chance that a catastrophic event that will damage the UPS. Although the UPS will have protected your servers, it could possibly be permanently damaged in the process. When you have TVSS equipment at the utility feed, it greatly reduces the potential effect of the surge, allowing your UPS a much greater chance of surviving the event.
4. Undervoltage - (Brownout) Reduced Line Voltage for Extended Periods of a Few Minutes to a Few Days
Cause
- It can be caused by intentional utility voltage reduction to conserve power during peak demand periods, or other heavy loads that exceed supply capacity.
Effect
- Computer systems can experience data corruption, data loss, and premature hardware failure.
- May cause erratic behavior in some equipment.
Solution
Protect your critical equipment with a UPS!
Brownout Definition: A reduction in the main voltage without a complete loss of power. A brownout is a steady lower voltage state. An example of a brownout happens during peak electrical demands in the summer when utilities can't always meet the requirements and must lower the voltage to limit maximum power.
5. Overvoltage - Increased Line Voltage for Extended Periods of a Few Minutes to a Few Days
Cause
- Overvoltage can be triggered by a rapid reduction in power loads, heavy equipment being turned off, or utility switching.
Effect
- The results can potentially damage hardware!
Solution
Protect your critical equipment with a UPS!
Over Voltage Definition: A power surge that takes place when the voltage is 110% above the rated RMS voltage for one or more cycles. The most common cause is heavy electrical equipment being turned off. Under this condition, computer systems may experience memory loss, data errors, flickering lights, and equipment shutoff.
6. Electrical Line Noise - High Frequency Waveform Caused by RFI or EMI Interference
Cause
- It can be caused by either RFI or EMI interference generated by transmitters, welding devices, SCR driven printers, lightning, etc.
Effect
- May cause data loss, hardware damage, or reduce the life expectancy of electronic components.
Solution
Protect your critical equipment with a UPS!
Noise Definition: Random, sporadic, or multi-frequency electrical signals that become part of a transmission- making the signal or information more difficult to identify.
Electrical Noise Definition: Electrical Line Noise is defined as Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) and Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), and causes undesirable effects in circuits of computer systems. Sources of the problem include electric motors, relays, motor control devices, broadcast transmissions, microwave radiation, and distant electrical storms. RFI, EMI, and other frequency problems can cause data error, data loss, storage loss, keyboard lockup, and system lockup.
7. Frequency Variation - A Change in Frequency Stability
Cause
- Resulting from the generator or small co-generation sites being loaded and unloaded.
Effect
- Frequency variation can cause erratic operation, data loss, system crashes, and equipment damage
Solution
Protect your critical equipment with a UPS!
Frequency Definition: The repetition of cycles measured in Hz. 60 Hz is the standard frequency in the U.S. 60 Hz = 60 cycles per second.
Frequency Variation: A frequency variation involves a change in frequency of more than 3Hz from the normally stable utility frequency of 60Hz. This may be caused by the erratic operation of emergency generators or by unstable frequency power sources. For sensitive electronic equipment, the result can be data corruption, hard drive crash, keyboard lockup, and program failure.
8. Switching Transient - Instantaneous Undervoltage (Notch) in the Range of Nanoseconds
Cause
- Normal duration is shorter than a spike and generally falls in the range of nanoseconds.
Effect
- May cause erratic behavior in some equipment, memory loss, data error, data loss, and component stress.
Solution
Protect your critical equipment with UPS and TVSS!
Switching Transients Definition: Switching transients take place when there is a rapid voltage peak of up to 20,000 volts, with a duration time of 10 MicroSeconds to 100 MicroSeconds. They are commonly caused by arcing faults and static discharge. In addition, major power system switching disturbances initiated by the utilities to correct line problems may happen several times a day.
9. Harmonic Distortion - Distortion of the Normal Waveform Generally Transmitted by Nonlinear Loads
Cause
- Distortion of the normal line waveform, generally transmitted by non-linear loads. Switch-mode power supplies, variable-speed motors, and drives, copiers, and fax machines, are all examples of non-linear loads.
Effect
- It can cause communication errors, overheating, and hardware damage.
Solution
Protect your critical equipment with a UPS!
Harmonic Distortion Definition: The presence of harmonics that change the AC voltage waveform from a simple sinusoidal to a complex waveform. Harmonic distortion can be generated by a load and fed back into the AC mains, causing power problems to other equipment on the circuit.
To find out more about how to choose the proper UPS for your needs Click Here.
To find out more about what the effects of poor power conditions are Click Here.
