Lightning

Transients, or spikes, are usually associated with lightning strikes. They are very fast, lasting less than one-sixtieth of a second. Unless your home receives a direct hit, the bolt is shorted to the ground by lightning arrestors installed on utility poles and other co-op equipment. However, if the transient enters your home wiring, it can destroy all appliances, large and small.

Sags are slight decreases in voltage usually caused by the start-up of large equipment - like a washing machine in your home or large electric motor in a business down the road. These can last several seconds. Swells are just the opposite - slight increases in voltage - that result from electrical equipment, such as large motors, being shut down abruptly. While sags usually do not cause direct damage to equipment, they can cause computers to “crash” and may indicate dangerously faulty wiring. Swells can damage sensitive equipment like computers and other microprocessor-controlled devices.

Momentary interruptions are usually the result of a branch or small animal briefly coming into contact with a power line. Clocks flashing “12:00” are caused by these interruptions that are usually so brief ordinary lights don’t even dim or flicker. In effect, the only thing that “sees” the short power disruption is the microprocessor.

Surge Protection

Fuzzy TV Reception

Lock the Doors

Common Home Problems

Useful Terms