No Power? Blame the Heat!
High temperatures mean power companies may cut your electricity to conserve; here's what you need to know to protect your gear.
Is it hot enough for you?
That's a dumb question, one that's being asked across the country.
Here in Southern California it's roughly 130 degrees. Okay, so I'm exaggerating a little--but I swear, not by much.
When the temperature goes up, so do the power company's rates, which I might be willing to pay if only they'd provide the service. Instead, they raise their fees and turn off the power without much warning. No kidding. You can see how some of California's unpredictable rolling brownouts work at Southern California Edison's Rotating Outages Information page.
The upshot? You need a surge suppressor. For one thing, it protects your equipment from everyday fluctuations in power. Just as important, if your neighborhood is targeted for a rolling blackout, you need protection when the power is restored.
From an Expert: Surge Suppressors
I recently interviewed Dan Farnsworth, an APC product manager, via e-mail. Even though Farnsworth certainly could have pitched APC's products, he didn't. So the info below applies to any surge suppressor.
Here are the reasons: All good-quality line cord surge protectors have "let-through" voltages much lower [than a TVSS] and therefore protect your electronics more completely.
Secondly, while a TVSS unit at your home or building's electrical service entrance will protect it from externally generated power spikes--say, a lightning strike, or a power surge from the power supplier--the majority of surges and spikes are generated from within your home or building. For instance, appliances--air conditioners, pumps and other items with motors--are a common source of these surges. These aren't nearly as large as a lightning strike, of course, but they subtly degrade the electrical components within your electronics.
This "multilevel" protection strategy is the best way to "bullet-proof" your system.
TVSS units are installed on the load side of the first main disconnect and are designed to protect sensitive electronic loads inside the facility. They have let-through ratings of 400-800v (depending on voltage system). I'd recommend installation of a TVSS unit minimally at the service entrance panel.
Steve Bass
