Something as simple as a power surge may not seem detrimental—in fact it may go unnoticed until equipment fails. At the other end of the spectrum, blackouts can cause entire systems to immediately go dark. While power anomalies are inevitable, their effects should not affect your systems, if the proper steps are taken to protect them.
Surges/Spikes (voltage increase from lightning, etc.) can damage equipment incrementally or catastrophically
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Surge / Spike
Surges and spikes are short-term voltage increases. They are typically caused by lightning strikes, power outages, short circuits or malfunctions caused by power utility companies. They cause data corruption, catastrophic and costly equipment damage and incremental damage that degrades equipment performance and shortens its useful lifespan.
Common causes of surges/spikes:
- Utility company load shifting
- Miswired electrical systems
- Lightning strikes
Problems caused by surges/spikes:
- System lockups
- Incremental or catastrophic equipment damage
- Lost productivity
Electrical noise can confuse system logic and damage electronic components, resulting in random server lockups and premature board failure.
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Line Noise
Line noise refers to distortion on AC, telephone/DSL, network or coaxial lines caused by Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). Line noise is unavoidable and will appear on every signal at some point, though it is not always detrimental, or even noticeable. It causes incremental electronic circuit damage, data corruption, audio/video quality problems and confusion between system components. Line noise generated by electronic devices varies greatly and can be produced by energy disturbances from a variety of sources, both natural and man-made.
Common causes of line noise:
- Radio transmissions
- High voltage power lines
- Severe weather
- Fluorescent lights
Problems caused by line noise:
- System lockups
- Audio static
- Video "snow"
- Slow electronic degradation
87% of power problems are caused by brownouts, not blackouts
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Brownout / Undervoltage / Sag
A brownout is a voltage deficiency that occurs when the need for power exceeds power availability. Brownouts typically last for a few minutes, but can last up to several hours, as opposed to short-term fluctuations like surges or spikes. They are caused by the disruption of an electrical grid and may be imposed by utility companies when there is an overwhelming demand for power. Brownouts, more common than blackouts, cause equipment failures, incremental damage, decreased equipment stability and data loss.
Common causes of brownouts/undervoltages/sags:
- Inadequate utility service
- Heavy power draw in area/facility
- Poor electrical circuit design
Problems caused by brownouts/undervoltages/sags:
- Active data loss
- System lockups
- Lost productivity
- Slow electronic degradation
A swell is the opposite of a sag; an increase in voltage instead of a deficiency.
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Swell / Overvoltage
Swells are basically the opposite of a brownout: instead of a voltage deficiency, or sag, a swell is a voltage increase for a long duration (seconds to a minute), as opposed to a brief increase, like a surge/spike. A swell is caused when the power being provided outweighs the power accepted by connected equipment, resulting in an increase in voltage. Much like sags, deterioration may not be apparent until it's too late, resulting in lost data and damaged equipment.
Common causes of swells/overvoltages:
- Sudden/large load reductions
- Oversupply of power from utility source
- Fault on a 3-phase system
Problems caused by swells/overvoltages:
- Slow electronic degradation
- Flickering lights
- Overheating and stress on equipment
Blackouts, a complete loss of power, result in lost productivity, time and money.
5
Blackout / Power Outage
A blackout, or power outage, is a complete loss of utility power, whether short- or long-term. Blackouts cause reduced productivity, lost revenue, system crashes and data loss. Unplanned outages may occur as aging electrical grids and building circuits are overwhelmed by high demand. Blackouts are particularly dangerous at sites where safety or life support rely on power, such as hospitals, treatment centers and power plants.
Common causes of blackouts/power outages:
- Utility company failure
- Accidental AC line disconnection
- Tripped circuit breakers
- Severe weather
Problems caused by blackouts/power outages:
- Data loss
- System downtime
- Lost productivity
- Lost revenue
Affordable solutions protect equipment, data and productivity against the hazards of power problems. Solutions are available for any size application, from home to enterprise business, and offer varying levels of protection, ranging from protection against common hazards like surges and line noise, to the most complete protection available against all hazards.
| The chart below illustrates which solutions fit certain needs: | |||||
| Surge/Spike | Line Noise | Brownout | Swell | Blackout | |
| Surge Protector | Good | Good | — | — | — |
| Standby UPS | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Line-Interactive UPS | Good | Good | Better | Better | Good |
| On-Line UPS | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
Surge Protectors
Protect all computers and electronics
Surge protectors provide heavy-duty surge/spike protection and line noise filtration. Premium surge protectors incorporate more and substantially stronger protective components, as well as isolated filter banks that eliminate interference between devices plugged into the same surge protector. Select models include data line protection (telephone/DSL, coaxial and/or Ethernet).
Standby UPS Systems
Protect PCs and workstations
Standby UPS systems provide surge/spike/line noise protection like surge protectors, and they add battery backup to keep connected equipment operating without interruption during blackouts. They also provide limited brownout protection by switching to battery power to correct undervoltages. Select models include data line protection and communication ports that enable automatic shutdown of connected computers during extended blackouts.
Line-Interactive UPS Systems
Protect workstations, servers, data centers and network equipment
In addition to the protection features offered by standby UPS systems, line-interactive UPS systems add automatic voltage regulation (AVR). AVR allows the UPS system to adjust voltage to safe levels during brownouts without switching to battery power, reducing battery wear and preserving charge levels for blackout protection.
On-Line UPS Systems
Protect servers, VoIP systems and other mission-critical equipment
On-Line UPS systems offer the best protection available against all power problems. True on-line operation with continuous AC-to-DC-to-AC double conversion completely isolates electronics from power problems. Precision-regulated output power with pure sine waveform guarantees maximum stability for connected equipment.
Power protection is a concern for every application, and the risks aren't going to go away. Protect computers, servers and mission-critical equipment from potentially irreversible damage with an optimized power protection solution.
Eaton manufactures a wide range of products designed to safeguard equipment against downtime, damage and data loss caused by power problems. With a trusted, worldwide reputation for award-winning quality, superior reliability and incomparable customer service, Eaton has the complete solution to keep equipment powered and protected at all times. With Product Finders for everything from UPS systems and surge protectors, to cables, racks and PDUs, it's easy to find what you need, plus, free technical support means you'll have the confidence to purchase and deploy the best solution for your application
