What Causes Damaging Power Surges and Line Noise?
In this power-hungry computer age, utility power systems are often pushed beyond their capacity, resulting in unstable, unreliable power for consumers. Overburdened power grids can generate powerful surges as they switch between sources, or generate “rolling surges” when power is momentarily disrupted. Local sources can also generate surges. For example, if your neighbor starts up an electrical motor or the office on the floor below you blows a fuse, a surge could result. In addition, lightning strikes, wind, freezing rain, wildlife and other environmental causes can send a large surge along power lines, damaging equipment that is plugged into nearby AC and phone outlets. Line noise is typically generated by turning on other power-drawing devices connected to the same electrical system. Turning on florescent lights, laser printers or appliances, working near a radio station, using a power generator or simply working during a lightning storm can all introduce line noise into connected e
