How can you prevent a power surge? Causes, damage, and solutions

Power surges are one of the most common risks in homes and commercial properties. Although they may seem like isolated incidents, their consequences can be serious, ranging from a simple fault in your appliances to causing fires. We'll explain what a power surge is, why it happens, the damage it can cause, and most importantly, how you can prevent it.

What is a power surge?

A power surge occurs when there is a sudden increase in the voltage of an electrical installation, exceeding the normal levels. In homes in Spain, the standard voltage is considered to be 230 volts. If it rises sharply, it can affect and damage electrical devices connected to the property's power supply.

Power surges are quite common, affecting not only electricity distribution lines but also telephone and data lines. Their causes are as follows:

• Weather events: as an effect of a lightning strike, which can generate a current of thousands of amps. These surges are the most severe and damaging.
• Grid switching: when there are alterations in the electricity supply due to incorrect work, or from high-power appliances being switched on and off. It often occurs when the electricity company makes changes to the supply, or from the starting or stopping of lifts, pumps or large household appliances. The origin of the problem also allows us to classify surges into two types: transient surges and permanent surges.
• Transient surges: these are short-lived. They usually occur as a result of weather events. They cause damage to the electrical grid and can lead to irreparable faults in the circuits of equipment and installations.
• Permanent surges: these are sustained over time. They are generally due to voltage imbalances and the resulting overload. In these cases, the damage is more significant and devastating. Common causes include faults in the installation's neutral conductor, errors in the distribution network, or defects in the electricity company's transformer.

"Power surges are quite common, and are caused by weather events or alterations in the supply."

Why are power surges so harmful?

The systems in electrical equipment are designed to operate within a specific voltage range. When this limit is exceeded, the internal components can overheat, melt, and even cause explosions and/or fires. Sometimes, this damage is not easy to spot or shows no immediate signs, making it difficult to detect and prevent the device from failing in time.

Nowadays, devices and appliances are much more sensitive, complex, small, and delicate, so the risk of serious damage from a power surge is greater.

Faced with the danger of overvoltage, we must anticipate any unforeseen event and protect our equipment.

Types of damage it can cause

The main damage is financial, as repairing or replacing devices with immediate or cumulative damage incurs significant costs, in addition to the personal and professional disruption caused by the interruption of the electricity service.

Based on the level of damage to appliances and systems, we can identify three types of harmful effects:

Disruptive failures

These result from the interruption of the electrical system, leading to data loss and errors in the functioning of computers, servers ,and hard drives.

Degradation failures

These shorten the lifespan of damaged appliances after they have been exposed to a power surge.

Equipment destruction

These are the most serious, causing irreparable damage to circuit boards and installations, which tend to affect computers and electronic devices the most. There is even the possibility of it becoming a source of fire if the surge causes overheating or a spark, with the consequent danger to people's safety.

"The main damage is financial due to the replacement of devices, in addition to the personal and professional disruption caused by the interruption of the electricity service."