How to Troubleshoot Unexpected Power Surges in Your Business's Electrical System

Introduction

Unexpected power surges can cause disruptions and damage to electrical equipment in your business. As a business owner, it's important to understand what's causing these power spikes and how to properly troubleshoot them. This guide will walk you through the common causes of power surges and provide actionable steps for diagnosing and resolving electricity issues.

What Causes Power Surges?

There are several potential culprits behind unexpected power surges:

• Faulty wiring or loose connections - If wires are crossed, damaged, or connections are loose, it can cause spikes in power. Inspect wires and connections for damage.

• Overloaded circuits - Too many devices on one circuit can cause demand to exceed capacity, triggering a surge. Audit appliances on problem circuits.

• Damaged power equipment - Issues with transformers, substations, or other gear can lead to irregular power delivery. Check equipment servicing records.

• Severe weather - Storms, lightning strikes, high winds may cause surges from spikes in demand. Note if issues correlate to weather events.

• Electrical grid fluctuations - Problems at power plants and along transmission lines can ripple through the grid, causing surges. Contact your utility provider.

• Energy-intensive equipment - Certain appliances with high startup power demands like air conditioners can stress circuits. Log equipment usage before surges.

• Rodent damage - Chewed wires or nesting materials can interrupt circuits. Inspect for signs of rodent infestation.

• Old wiring - Outdated electrical systems may not be designed to handle modern usage. Verify age of building wiring.

Diagnosing the Issue

Pinpointing the root cause of electricity surges requires methodically testing and troubleshooting potential issues:

• Check circuit breakers - Flipped breakers indicate overloaded circuits. Reset tripped breakers and monitor if they trip again.

• Inspect electrical panels - Look for signs of heat damage or corrosion that could cause surges. Check if wiring gauge matches circuit capacity.

• Consider surge protectors - Add commercial-grade protectors if issues originate outside like weather or grid fluctuations.

• Use multimeters to check voltage - Detect surges by monitoring power levels. Spikes over 130V can damage equipment.

• Log events - Note exact time and duration of surges along with affected equipment. Helps identify root cause.

• Eliminate points of failure - Temporarily disconnect equipment on affected circuits to isolate issue.

• Contact professionals - For suspected grid or buried wiring issues, engage qualified electricians.

Preventing Future Power Surges

Once the source of surges is identified, implement solutions to prevent recurrences and protect equipment:

• Install whole building surge suppressors.

• Ensure electrical panels provide sufficient excess capacity.

• Upgrade wiring that is outdated, damaged, or improperly sized.

• Make sure circuits have dedicated neutral lines. Shared neutrals can cause spikes.

• Provide backup power sources like generators or uninterruptible power supplies.

• Purchase commercial-grade surge protectors for sensitive electronic equipment.

• Consider power conditioning devices that regulate voltage and filter electrical noise.

• Use shielded power cables for equipment with cables longer than 30 feet.

• Connect equipment requiring stable power to a separate isolated circuit.

Conclusion

Troubleshooting and protecting against damaging power surges requires a thorough, methodical approach. By understanding common surge causes, inspecting electrical systems, using diagnostic tools, and implementing preventative solutions, business owners can minimize disruptive electricity issues. Proactively monitoring power systems and having professionals promptly address detected problems will provide reliable, steady power delivery.