Power Problems Defined

Power Surges

DEFINITION - Voltage above 110% of rated RMS voltage range of usable voltage) for one or more cycles.
CAUSE - Heavy electrical equipment being turned off.
EFFECT - Memory loss, data errors, flickering lights, equipment shutoff.

High Voltage Spikes

DEFINITION - Rapid voltage peak up to 6,000 volts with a duration of 100mS (mS= 1,000th of a second ) to 1/2 cycle.
CAUSE - Lightning strikes, Switching operations, arcing faults, static discharge.
EFFECT - Memory loss, data errors, data loss, component stress, burned circuit boards.

Switching Transients

DEFINITION - Rapid voltage peak up to 20,000 volts with a duration of 10mS to 100mS.
CAUSE - Lightning strikes, switching operations, arcing faults, static discharge.
EFFECT - Memory loss, data errors, data loss, component stress, burned circuit boards.

Power Sags

DEFINITION - Voltage below 80% to 85% of rated RMS voltage for one or more cycles.
CAUSE - Heavy equipment being turned on, starting large electrical motors, switching power mains (internal or utility).
EFFECT - Memory loss, data errors, flickering lights, equipment shutoff.

Frequency Variation

DEFINITION - A change in frequency of more than 3 Hz.
CAUSE - Erratic operation of emergency power generators, unstable frequency power sources.
EFFECT - Data errors, data loss, keyboard lockup, storage loss, system lockup.

Brownout

DEFINITION - A steady state of RMS voltage under nominal by a relatively constant percentage.
CAUSE - Heavy equipment being turned on, starting large electrical motors,switching power mains (internal and utility), over-loaded circuits.
EFFECT - Disk crash, keyboard lockup, program failures, data corruption. Premature hardware failure, data loss and corruption.

Power FailureS

DEFINITION - A zero-voltage condition lasting for more than two cycles.
CAUSE - Circuit breaker tripped, power distribution failure, utility power failure.
EFFECT - File corruption, hardware damage, data loss and corruption.

System Personnel

DEFINITION - Someone prone to leaving their brain at home for the day
CAUSE - Incorrect operation of equipment and UPS / Power products
EFFECT - Usually brings on heart failure in company accountants.

Power Surges

DEFINITION - Voltage above 110% of rated RMS voltage
(range of usable voltage) for one or more cycles.
CAUSE - Heavy electrical equipment being turned off.
EFFECT - Memory loss, data errors, flickering lights, equipment shutoff.