Electric Power Problems
| PROBLEM | ANOMALY | CAUSES | EFFECTS |
|
SAG (undervoltage) |
Reduction of the voltage level for a brief duration. Represents the 87% of all disturbances. | Presence of many electric devices on the same line. | System crash with loss or corruption of data. |
|
BLACKOUT (power outage) |
Complete interruption of energy supply. | Lightnings, ice over lines, incidents, excavations, excessive demands to the energy network. | Loss of work in progress stored in RAM. Possible loss of data stored on hard disk. |
|
SPIKE (transient, peak) |
High increase of voltage for a duration of few microseconds. | Lightning in proximity or when the energy supply is restored after a drop. | Very severe damage to hardware. Loss of data. |
| SURGE | Increase of voltage for a brief duration (for some seconds). | Many high power electric motors on a single line (air conditioners, domestic appliances). When those motors are switched-off the voltage in excess is dissipated through the line. | Damages due to premature wear of hardware. |
| NOISE | Electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI). | Load switching, radio transmitters, industrial machinery, and lightnings. | General malfunction, system faults, program errors. |
