NINE COMMON GRID PROBLEMS

AND THEIR CAUSES

The following graphic details nine common power protection problems typically encountered in the grid
with the potential to impact uptime in commercial buildings and data centres, as well as in telecommunications,
healthcare and industrial settings. We’ll be exploring the system technologies available to address these challenges
in the next chapter.

Provides full protection, delivering 100% uptime

SERIES 9 Single- and three-phase
for critical applications

EATON SERIES 5 Single-phase

Offers an intermediate solution for office environments
and servers with good communication options
SOLUTIONS
A basic solution that protects non-critical hardware
SERIES 3 Single-phase
and data. Mainly used for protecting PCs

PROBLEM CAUSE DIRECT IMPACT

• Total loss of • Utility equipment failure • Equipment damage and data loss
1. electrical supply, • Storm • Reduced inventory volume
also known as • Objects striking lines or poles
POWER a blackout • Fire
FAILURE • Human error

• Short term low • Start-up of large loads Utility • Equipment crashes

2.
voltage switching • Damaged hardware – especially with sensitive
• Utility equipment failure electronics such as computers
POWER • Lightning • Heat build-up in UPSs, as well as reduction
SAG • Insufficient power service to equipment life
meet demand

• Very fast, short- • Lightning • Line voltages in excess of 6,000 volts almost always
3.
term high voltage • Line or capacitor switching result in data loss or hardware damage
POWER SURGE variation above 110 • Disconnection of heavy loads. • Power surges can knock out delicate electronics,
(SPIKE) per cent of nominal cause fires, and bring havoc to circuitry
• Data processing errors, data loss and electromagnetic
interference

4. • Reduced line • Can be intentional utility • Lights will dim and flicker on and off
voltage from a few voltage reduction to conserve • High-tech devices such as computers, TVs and others
minutes to a few power during peak periods or are especially vulnerable to shut off, malfunction or
UNDERVOLTAGE days other heavy loads that exceed complete destruction
(BROWNOUT) supply capacity

• Increased line • Starting/stopping • Data loss

5. voltage from of heavy loads • Screen flicker
a few minutes to a • Poorly dimensioned power • Equipment damage
OVERVOLTAGE few days sources
• Poorly regulated transformers

• High frequency • Either RFI or EMI • Interference in radio and television reception including
6. wave form • Interference generated by cable TV head-end pick-up and Internet service
transmitters, welding devices, • Loss of critical communications for police, fire, military
ELECTRICAL SCR driven printers and and other similar radio users
LINE NOISE lightning etc

7. • A change in • Generator or small code • Motors may run faster or slower, leading to
frequency stability generation sites being loaded inefficiency, excess heat and degradation
FREQUENCY and unloaded
VARIATION

• Instantaneous • Lightning • Degradation (reduced equipment lifespan)

8.
under-voltage • Switching loads and capacitor • Equipment failure (particularly concerning for essential
(notch) – shorter banks Opening and closing services such as fire and security alarm systems)
SWITCHING than a spike in connections on energised
TRANSIENT the range of lines Reclosing operations
nanoseconds and switching taps on
transformers

• Of the normal • Switch mode power supplies • Communication errors, overheating and hardware
9.
line wave • Variable speed motors and damage.
HARMONIC form, generally drives
transmitted by non- • Non-linear loads such as
DISTORTION linear loads copiers and fax machines