Common Power Problems & Solutions: Surges, Sags, Brownouts & More

Utility Power Is Never Clean. Here’s What’s Coming Into Your Building — and How to Stop It from Damaging Your Equipment.

By Molly Gross, Principal, Power Solutions, LLC

Power surges, brownouts, transients, and blackouts are inevitable. The question is whether your facility is protected when they happen.

Utility power is constantly compromised by surges, sags, spikes, transients, frequency variations, line noise, brownouts, and outright blackouts — and these problems are getting worse as grid infrastructure ages and green energy sources introduce new instabilities. This whitepaper identifies the eight most common power quality problems, explains what causes each, describes their effects on sensitive equipment, and reviews the protection solutions that prevent damage and downtime. A layered approach to power protection is the recognized best practice — and this whitepaper is the starting point for building yours.

Whitepaper Summary

Q: What are the most common power quality problems affecting facilities?

A: The 8 most common are: power surges, high-voltage spikes, transients, frequency variation, power sags, electrical line noise, brownouts, and blackouts — each with distinct causes and effects on equipment.

Q: What is a transient and why is it especially dangerous?

A: A transient is a sudden deviation in voltage or current lasting from 200 microseconds to half a second. Transients are the most damaging type of power disturbance and can burn circuit boards and destroy data.

Q: What equipment protects against power surges and spikes?

A: Surge protective devices (SPDs) provide the first line of defense against surges and spikes. For comprehensive protection, a UPS with online double-conversion topology provides full isolation from all input power quality issues.

Q: What causes brownouts and how do they damage equipment?

A: Brownouts are sustained low-voltage conditions, often caused when utility companies reduce voltage during peak demand. They cause equipment glitches, data loss, and over time can damage motors and power supplies.

Q: How often should a facility review its power protection strategy?

A: Best practices recommend reviewing your power protection strategy annually or whenever there is a significant change in equipment, facility load, or utility service — since utility reliability and equipment sensitivity continue to evolve.

Download this whitepaper.