Power dips are temporary voltage fluctuations that can damage sensitive electronic devices. They occur when high-current devices are added to already charged circuits. Using an uninterruptible power supply can prevent damage to hardware or data stored on computers.
Power dips are temporary fluctuations in the voltage of an electrical system. They occur most frequently in domestic electrical systems and are typically triggered by the presence of a substantial increase in the load on the circuit. Under normal circumstances, power outages aren’t a threat to most household appliances and other electronic devices; however, they can affect particularly sensitive parts of electrical equipment. Potential damage due to voltage variations can be minimized by using an uninterruptible power supply.
One of the most common situations in which power drops occur is when an individual adds a high current electrical element to an already charged circuit. By plugging in and running a device like a microwave or hair dryer, the extra stress on the circuit results in a temporary drop in the amount of power available. As a result, lights in the house may dim, devices on the same circuit may momentarily stutter, or other temporary electrical phenomena may occur.
Under normal conditions, the symptoms caused by power dips shouldn’t last more than a few seconds, after which the circuit should get used to the extra demands placed on it by the high-current device. This typically won’t have any adverse effect on most electrical items, such as lights, refrigerators, stoves, and other appliances. However, more sensitive devices such as computers, especially high-powered computers, mainframes and servers, can potentially suffer from power outages. Momentary power outage could crash your system, force restart your computer, disrupt a computer network, and potentially trigger data loss in active programs.
The easiest way for a person to keep power sags from affecting sensitive electronic devices is to use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). A UPS is designed to absorb fluctuations in the amount of current available on a line, providing the device it is connected to with a constant, uninterrupted flow of electricity. Any computer that contains important business or personal data, or that performs critical functions that could be interrupted by a power outage, can greatly benefit from being connected to a UPS as a precaution against potential damage to hardware or information stored on the computer.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
