Over the past 40+ years there have been no significant advances in our power supply or the level of protection, and yet the equipment we deploy and rely on daily continues to grow more digitally advanced. An inconsistent power supply places the reliability and efficiency of our electronic equipment at constant jeopardy. Factors such as productivity, profitability and end-user satisfaction, are at risk when this equipment isn’t protected from power fluctuations.
The power grid is archaic and unable to support today’s sophisticated electronics. Even a minor voltage fluctuation can wreak havoc on electronics like office equipment causing indescribable system lockups, board failures, resets, premature equipment failures, and high service and parts costs.
- 20 years of Grid data confirms that surge is the most rare of all disturbances while sags account for the majority
- Both external (Grid) and internal (building) disturbances impact electronics causing them to malfunction, operate inefficiently, be damaged or destroyed completely
- Traditional surge suppressors DO NOT protect from the vast majority of voltage events attacking electronics.
Most Electronics are Vulnerable
The initial need for electronics protection can be attributed to inconsistencies of the power grid which is rife with variations in the flow of power. While the industry has historically viewed power grid variations and its vulnerabilities as easily solvable by protecting against lightning strikes and power outages, the truth is quite different and more severe in nature and far more technical.
Of power related events that damage electronics, less than one half of one percent are caused by voltage surges and spikes and a small percentage of failures actually results from power outages themselves. The daily disturbances include a complex array of voltage sags, brown outs, overvoltages and even power outages that cause the very destructive Post-Blackout Reclose sequence.
No two disturbances are the same and the increased complexity of these disturbances in combination with one another have been proven to be catastrophic to the lifespan and reliability of electronics.
MFPs and other equipment are not working as they should. Issues can vary and include:
- System reboots and paper jams
- Unexplainable No Fault Found (NFF) hardware issues
- Erroneous error codes
- Board failures and premature replacement
- Loss of network connectivity
Power Issues Affect:
Your Business:
- Lost Revenue
- Lost Profitability
- Shortened Asset Life
- Lost Customers
Your Service:
- Service Calls
- Labor Costs
- Parts Costs
- Call Center
- Overhead
It’s clear that even a minor voltage fluctuation is enough to wreak havoc on electronic equipment. According to the Electrical Power Research Institute, power disturbances cost U.S. industry as much as $188 billion per year in lost data, material and productivity.