Blackouts, brownouts, noise, spikes, and
surges are all examples of power interruptions that can cause system
malfunctions or even complete system failure. These are explained in
more detail below:
- Blackouts
– Blackouts are the complete loss of power for any amount of time.
They are usually the result of a strong weather event such as high
winds, lightning, or earthquakes.
- Brownouts/Sags
– Sags and brownouts are a drop in power. A sag is a brownout that lasts less than a second. These incidents occur when voltage on the power line falls below 80 percent of the normal voltage.
Overloaded circuits can cause them. Brownouts can also be caused intentionally by the utility companies seeking to reduce the power drawn by users during peak demand periods. Like surges, sags and brownouts account for a large proportion of the power problems that affect networks and the computing devices that are attached to them.
- Noise
– Noise is caused by interference from radio broadcasts,
generators, and lightning. The ultimate effect is unclean power, which can
cause errors in a computer system.
- Spikes
– Spikes are sudden increases in voltage that are much higher
than normal levels. These are
usually caused by lightning strikes but can also occur when the
utility system comes back online after a blackout.
- Surges
– A surge is a brief increase in voltage that is usually caused by
high demands on the power grid in a local area. These can last for considerable
amounts of time. When a computer receives too much power, it may
cause the power supply to run hot or even stop working all
together.
By having an understanding of the types of power issues that can cause
problems with computer systems, preventing problems from occurring
will be easier. The next section will discuss the different types of
equipment that can be used to protect equipment from power events.
|
|
