More information around Power Surges, we hope that this article will help give you a better understanding and some more usefull information on this topic. When lightning strikes near a power line, whether it’s underground, in a building or running along poles, the electrical energy can boost electrical pressure by millions of volts. A more common cause of power surges is the operation of high-power electrical devices, such as elevators, air conditioners and refrigerators.
Power surges occur when something boosts the electrical charge at some point in the power lines. This switching creates sudden, brief demands for power, which upset the steady voltage flow in the electrical system.
While these surges are nowhere near the intensity of a lightning surge, they can be severe enough to damage components, immediately or gradually, and they occur regularly in most building’s electrical systems.
Other sources of power surges include faulty wiring, problems with the utility company’s equipment, and downed power lines. The system of transformers and lines that brings electricity from a power generator to the outlets in our homes or offices is extraordinarily complex. There are dozens of possible points of failure, and many potential errors that can cause an uneven power flow.
In today’s system of electricity distribution, power surges are an unavoidable occurrence. This causes an increase in the electrical potential energy, which can increase the current flowing to your wall outlet.
These high-powered pieces of equipment require a lot of energy to switch on and turn off components like compressors and motors. In a lightning storm, you should never rely purely on your surge protector to save your computer and for this reason proper lightning protection systems should also be installed. The most familiar source is probably lightning, though it’s actually one of the least common causes. A number of different things can cause this to happen.