What Are Power Surges?

A power surge can happen when electricity is interrupted then immediately re-established forcing too much current through the system. Power surges have the ability to knock out your delicate electronics, cause fires, and wreak havoc up and down the circuitry of your home or business. Here are some causes of power surges and what you can do to protect your home or business.

Power Outages Ever notice how momentarily bright all your lights get when they first come back on after a power outage? The idea that a power outage can cause a power surge seems counter-intuitive. However, that massive burst of energy that turns the power back on for a whole neighborhood, town or state may lead to excess energy coursing through the lines.

Lightning Strikes Lightning touching down simply near your power line can lead to an extra spike in electrical voltage of millions of volts. That's why your cable box, lamp, or computer do not stand a chance against a power surge caused by lightning strikes, unless you are using a surge protector. During especially severe storms however, it may be best to power down and unplug expensive equipment. Power surges from lightning strikes can destroy your electronics causing them to fail to power back on. This can be an expensive and annoying problem. For a business this can lead to data loss, or the need to replace costly equipment. 

Overloaded Outlets or Circuits Survey the outlets under your desk, behind your television set, or anywhere else you have a tangled web of wires. Plugging in too many appliances or electronics in the same socket can lead to power surges and electrical fires. If you are experiencing power surges, have an electrician check to see if all of the outlets in a room might be operating on the same circuit. If so, overloading one outlet might not be the problem. The circuit itself may be overloaded trying to power too many appliances in the same room.

Damaged or Exposed Wiring Pesky little critters such as mice or squirrels can chew on the wiring inside the walls of your house or building causing the wiring to fail. Damaged or exposed wires can cause power surges because the electricity flowing through them is not being directed or handled in the way it normally should. If wires are damaged, you may even smell smoke as the wires can melt or burn up due to the abnormal flow of voltage. Note that exposed wires should not be handled as they can cause electrocution. Instead, consult an electrician who can test and replace the affected outlets and wires as needed to ensure safety.

High-Power Electrical Devices High-energy appliances or machines like elevators, refrigerators and air conditioners can cause energy spikes and power surges. That is because when they power on they tend to draw an abnormally large amount of electricity and that excess power courses throughout the circuit, overpowering other appliances and electronics in its path. When this happens, it is common to notice the lights flickering or blinking off and on in your house or office. 

Momentary Circuit Interruptions We know that blinks or short duration interruptions can be annoying. A momentary outage is defined as a brief electrical service interruption lasting no longer than five minutes. While these interruptions can be irritating, they also serve a valuable purpose; they demonstrate that the electrical system is working properly and that it has prevented an even longer power outage. When an object comes in contact with electric lines, it causes a fault. Breakers - similar to a circuit breaker in your home - sense the fault and interrupt power momentarily in an attempt to allow the lines to clear and check the system. This prevents further damage to equipment and prevents longer-duration outages requiring our personnel to respond to. 

Tracking Outages Outages caused by "tracking" can occur when dust accumulates on the insulators of utility poles and then combines with light moisture, usually caused by fog or drizzle. When there is a long dry spell, dust builds up on equipment. Light moisture combining with dust acts as a conductor, causing equipment to fail. It is possible that these outages result in a spark and pole or equipment catching fire. In such dry circumstances, it is beneficial to get a harder rain to wash dust away.

Public Damage Damage by vehicle accidents or construction equipment can cause broken utility poles, downed power lines and equipment damage. Outages can be extended and affect a large number of customers. It is important to keep electric safety in mind if you are involved in a vehicle crash around power lines.

How Do I Prevent Power Surges?

Eighty percent of all power surges and voltage spikes that occur in the home are caused by the everyday powering on and off of major appliances. Any appliances that are connected to individual circuits will cause big power draws and major power stoppages when they are powered on and off, and any electronics that are connected to the same circuit will deal with the same impact across the board.

The easiest way to prevent damage, especially when plugging expensive and rather delicate electronics into the wall, is to use individual surge protectors at the outlet level. Another option is to have an electrician install a whole-home or building surge protector. While a bit more expensive than plugging power surge protectors into all of your outlets and hoping for the best, a whole home search device is going to protect your circuits directly at the electrical panel, modulating and controlling power and making sure that it flows efficiently and steadily no matter what.