Install a suitable UPS and unplug all equipment (during a storm or when you are away from the office or home) that doesn't’t need to be on. This includes monitors, printers and hubs and routers.
The most damaging power surges come through the phone and power lines. So if you don’t need to access your home or small office computers while away, unplug all the cables from your internet modem and router.
If you are going away on holiday - Backup, Unplug EVERYTHING, When you return, - Update your system!
Damage to computer hardware from power surges is surprisingly a common problem. Your computer and CPE is at at risk of being damaged by a lightning strike during a storm. Even just an especially windy or rainy day can effect the power supply.
The damage caused to computers from these types of surges can vary in severity. Sometimes you might lose a power supply or a modem, and other times you might lose more. We do need to be prepared for the possibility of suffering a hardware failure of some kind one day. Here's some things to think about: |
|
|
-
Make sure you do have some kind of power surge protection for your system. Even for the single PC user at home, you should invest in a product that protects your computer from surges through both the power lines phone and network lines. A UPS with AVR and surge protection, is a good line of 1st defense. However, always remember that most power surge protectors are only designed to protect you from the "normal" fluctuations in power and other minor surges. They usually won't protect you from a major "spike", such as that from a lightning strike.
-
You MUST turn your computer and (CPE) equipment off whenever there's a storm, especially if you have no adequate protection in place.. There's no doubt that the risk of damage increases significantly during a storm, so if you are able to switch off your computer during bad weather, you might want to do that.
-
What's your insurance like? Have you really thought about it before? A lot of people make the assumption that they are covered for computer damage, but in fact many insurance companies don't pay for computer damage caused by surges. Many insurance companies will only pay if the damage is caused by a direct lightning strike during a storm. Seeing as though the cost of repairs can often run into several hundred rand's, you want to be really sure NOW that your insurance company would pay. It may be worthwhile running some "what if" scenarios past them to be sure. And shop around if you need to in order to find an insurance company that will give you the cover you need.
|
Your Home / Office : Power Surges
What are the Causes?
Power surges occur when the flow of electricity is interrupted, then started again, or when something sends electricity flowing back into the system.
Surges can range from five or ten volts when you turn on your hair dryer to thousands of volts if lightning strikes a transformer.
Internal power surges
More than half of household power surges are internal. These happen dozens of times of day, usually when devices with motors start up or shut off, diverting electricity to and from other appliances.
Refrigerators and air conditioners are the biggest culprits, but smaller devices like hair dryers and power tools can also cause problems.
External power surges
An external power surge, stemming from outside your home, is most commonly caused by a tree limb touching a power line, lightning striking utility equipment or a small animal getting into a transformer.
Surges can also occur when the power comes back on after an outage, and can even come into your home through telephone and cable TV lines.
Did you know?
A power surge usually lasts less than 1/120th of a second.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What Are Power (Voltage) Surges?
A power surge is one form of electrical power disturbance. There are four main types of power disturbances:
Voltage dips (also called "sags" or "brownouts")
Electromagnetic interference
Radio frequency interference
Power surges (also referred to as "voltage surges" or "transient voltages")
Power surges are generally considered to be the most destructive of the four types of electrical power disturbances.
Power surges are spikes in voltage.
They are very brief, usually lasting millionths of a second. Power surges can vary in duration and magnitude, varying from a few hundred volts to several thousand volts.
No matter where you live, your home experiences power surges.
How Does a Power Surge Cause Damage?
In the United States, most homes use electrical power in the form of 120-volt, 60 Hz, single phase, alternating current. However, the voltage is not delivered at a constant 120-volts. With alternating current the voltage rises and falls in a predetermined rhythm. The voltage oscillates from 0 to a peak voltage of 169 volts. Most appliances and electronics used in the United States are designed to be powered by this form of generated electricity.
During a power surge, the voltage exceeds the peak voltage of 169 volts.
A spike in voltage can be harmful to appliances and electrical devices in your home. An increase in voltage above an appliance's normal operating voltage can cause an arc of electrical current within the appliance. The heat generated in the arc causes damage to the electronic circuit boards and other electrical components.
Smaller, repeated power surges may slowly damage your electronic equipment. Your computer or stereo may continue to function after small surges occur until the integrity of the electronic components finally erode and your satellite system, cordless phone, or answering machine mysteriously stops working. Repeated, small power surges shorten the life of appliances and electronics.
Where Do Power Surges Come From?
There are several sources of power surges. They can originate from the electric utility company during power grid switching. A common cause of power surges, especially the most powerful ones, is lightning. Power surges can originate inside a home when large appliances like air conditioners and refrigerator motors turn on and off.
There are over 20 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes detected per year in the 48 contiguous states of the US.
Power surges can enter a home through several paths. In the case of lightning, it can take the path of the cable TV or satellite dish cable, through the incoming telephone lines, or through the incoming electrical service line.
Why Worry About Power Surges?
Your home is filled with items susceptible to power surges. Anything containing a microprocessor is especially vulnerable - the tiny digital components are so sensitive that even a 10-volt fluctuation can disrupt proper functioning.
Microprocessors are found in hundreds of consumer items, including TVs, cordless phones, computers, microwaves, and even seemingly "low-tech" large appliances like dishwashers, washing machines and refrigerators.
Large power surges, as with a lightning strike, can cause instantaneous damage, "frying" circuits and melting plastic and metal parts. Fortunately, these types of power surges are rare.
Low-level power surges won't melt parts or blow fuses, but they can cause "electronic rust," gradually degrading internal circuitry until it ultimately fails.
Small surges won't leave any outward evidence, so you may not even be aware they're happening - even though they may occur dozens or even hundreds of times each day.
Protecting Your Home From Power Surges
Knowing that power surges can take several paths and do not have to enter through the electrical panel indicates a good surge protection system should include:
Protection of the incoming electrical service. A UPS with AVR and surge protection, is a good line of 1st defense.
Some type of protection of phone lines and cable TV lines
Point-of-use surge protectors at sensitive and expensive appliances
When deciding on what type of and how much surge protection is needed, each house and its contents should be assessed individually. An electrician knowledgeable about power surge protection systems and the history of problems in your area is a valuable resource.
Preventing Power Surges
The first line of defense against power surges is prevention. While most external surges can't be controlled, you can eliminate some common causes of internal surges.
Unplug devices you aren't using
The easiest way to avoid power surge problems is to unplug devices that aren't being used. Take a look around your home, and you'll likely find dozens of idle items plugged in.
There's no need to leave toasters, power tools or other small appliances plugged in; if you rarely use the programming features on your microwave or VCR, unplug those as well.
Upgrade inadequate wiring
If you have an older home, inadequate wiring could be the cause. Electrical systems in homes built before the 1980s weren't designed to handle large-capacity refrigerators, entertainment systems and computer equipment.
Some visible signs of inadequate wiring are frequent blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers, or lights that flicker or dim when the refrigerator or another large appliance kicks on.
Don't ignore these symptoms - they're a signal that something is wrong, and the problem may become a fire hazard.
Fix overloaded circuits
If your home is newer, you may have a problem with an overloaded circuit. Look for two (or more) large appliances drawing power from the same circuit, especially in the kitchen.
Another trouble spot might be a circuit with many smaller devices, such as a family room filled with computer and entertainment equipment.
Ask your electrician to establish dedicated circuits for each large appliance, and to divide rooms with multiple devices into separate circuits.
E&OE Disclaimer - While all caution is taken to make sure that all content is correct, complete, relevant and true, errors may slip in.
|
