We get a number of calls every year about equipment that may have been damaged due to voltage fluctuations. As part of our service, we try to keep the voltage of the electricity we deliver as consistent as possible. The normally acceptable range is 110/220 to 125/250 volts and we try to keep it at the nominal value of 120/240 volts. However, this is not always possible and there are a number of situations that could lead to higher voltages.
- Most outages are caused by contacts with our system (trees, branches, lightning) causing a fault. When a fault occurs, a transient voltage waveform will likely be created. There are devices in the system (fuses) designed to mitigate these voltage transients, providing the fault occurs upstream from the protective device.
- The NOTL Hydro electrical grid is designed so that we have multiple spots at which we can switch where the power flows. This allows us to isolate certain sections for maintenance, repairs or customer work. When we make these switches there can be minor voltage changes.
- There can be voltage disturbances from contacts even if there is no outage.
- Though rarer, there can be voltage fluctuations emanating from the transmission grid.
While we do our best to mitigate them, we cannot provide any guarantees against these voltage fluctuations. We do recognize that the use of electronics continues to grow so that more and more equipment is exposed to potential issues with voltage fluctuations and that outages, even the very short ones, can require equipment to be reset and work potentially lost.
To protect your equipment and to mitigate the impact of outages, the following are some ideas ranging from the simplest to the more sophisticated solutions. With all of these there is a trade-off between their cost and the benefit being provided. The level of protection that makes sense will depend on your personal circumstances. Someone who works from home will likely need more protection than someone who just uses a computer for personal reasons.
- Use power bars or power strips with surge protection for sensitive equipment. These will prevent voltage fluctuations from damaging your equipment. They also reduce the number of plugs at a single outlet. At home, my computer is always plugged into a power bar rather than directly into the wall. Each set of equipment will need their own power bar. I recommend these for everyone.
- Whole home surge protectors provide the same protection but for the entire house. These are installed at the panel and should only be installed by a licensed electrical contractor.
- A UPS (uninterrupted power supply) is a device that will provide power to cover temporary outages. Depending on the UPS this could range anywhere from 5 seconds to 4 hours. Typical, off the shelf, UPS’s have a short duration. Naturally, the longer the back-up supply the more expensive the UPS.
- Longer term UPS’s have batteries in them. Batteries can also be used as a back-up power source. These can also be used in a single device set or whole home fashion. Again, for whole home set-ups, use a qualified electrical contractor.
- Solar panels are an alternate source of electricity. The challenge is that unless they are matched with a battery, they are only helpful when the sun is shining. The installation of solar panels is a significant investment so should be done as part of a comprehensive evaluation. A net metering contract with NOTL Hydro is also recommended to get the full financial benefit from the solar power.
- Finally, a back-up generator provides the most protection against loss of power. It is also the most expensive solution. We have a back-up generator hear at NOTL Hydro to ensure we can continue to serve our customers in the event of an outage. I previously worked at a data management company that provided instant access services to thousands of corporate customers. They had a back-up generator at both their main office and their computer back-up site. Back-up generators are also more common up north where the power supply is less reliable.
As stated, we do recommend the basic power bar protection when using computers and any sensitive electronic equipment. Beyond that, the need for anything else will depend on your circumstances.