Power outages can damage system files and data, and the subsequent power spikes can destroy hardware. As such, if you live in a neighborhood with unstable power, you should take the time to protect against both and save some headaches. Unfortunately, power cuts are one of the many ways you can damage your hardware.
A power outage may: Disrupt communications, water and transportation. Close retail businesses, grocery stores, gas stations, ATMs, banks and other services. Cause food spoilage and water contamination.
A strong surge can destroy any plugged-in electrical equipment. Due to their complexity, computers are particularly suspectable to damage from a power surge. While a blackout can cause a small amount of damage to a machine, a power surge can be catastrophic.
A power outage will not cause the same damage to your electronics as a power surge, but they are still damaging. Therefore, if you want to protect your electronics and stored data, you should invest in and take power outage precautions. For example, an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) can prevent power outage damage.
The short answer is 'yes. ' If you have fainted, you should see a physician or visit an emergency room right away to identify the cause of your fainting and to ensure you do not have a serious underlying condition.
More often than not, fainting will not lead to a diagnosis of a serious medical condition, but it is always best to call your doctor and get checked out. Your doctor will go over your medical history and perform a physical exam.
The damage to appliances and electronics doesn't normally occur when the power goes out, rather it's when it comes back on that the network voltage may be higher or lower than the ideal amount. If the voltage is too high it's called a surge, and the mini blast can definitely damage equipment and appliances.
A power surge is a sudden voltage spike that travels through your home's electrical system. Unfortunately, a power surge can quickly damage or destroy electronics and appliances plugged into a wall socket during the surge. In some cases, a power surge can damage outlets and electrical wiring, and even cause a fire.
Effects of a Power Outage on Your Refrigerator
A power outage can potentially cause the temperature inside your refrigerator to rise, which can lead to food spoilage. If the power outage is short there may not be any damage to the refrigerator. However, if the power outage is longer, the potential for damage increases.
To test, remove any power strips, battery backups, or other power sources, and plug your computer directly into a wall outlet. If your computer starts after doing this, it means a surge may have fried whatever power source you were using and will need to be reset or replaced.
But while a power surge might leave you without a light for an hour, it could severely damage your hard drive, potentially making data recovery difficult and expensive. There are several ways a hard disk drive or solid state drive can fail following a power outage or surge.
If the power is shut down suddenly, it can cause a system crash in your PC. Your operating system, as well as other software that was running during the crash, may be damaged. If you don't manage to do a system repair, you might have to reinstall your operating system.
Brownouts and blackouts refer to power outages, with a brownout being a temporary drop in voltage and a blackout being a complete loss of power.
The term brownout comes from the dimming of incandescent lighting when voltage reduces. In some countries, the term brownout refers not to a drop in voltage but to an intentional or unintentional power outage (or blackout).
Psychogenic blackouts are blackouts or fainting spells that occur because of stress and anxiety, not because of a directly observable physical cause. However, just because these psychogenic blackouts have a psychological cause does not mean they are not genuine or faked.
Some electronic control boards can be repaired after being damaged by a power surge. Often, it is easier for a technician to replace a damaged control board rather than repair it.
There are a few signs that may indicate your appliance or device experienced a power surge: The device's clock or lights are flashing. The device is off or does not work. There is an acrid, burnt odor around the device or power source.
In simplest terms, a power outage is a loss of power while a power surge increases the voltage. A power surge may cause electronics or appliances to temporarily turn on and off. A power outage may cause appliances and electronics to turn off as well but probably for an extended period.
Unplug Appliances
Laptops, freezers, air conditioning units, electric fans, and stoves should be unplugged. If left plugged in, refrigerators and air conditioning units become susceptible to damage from the tidal wave of electricity once power is restored.
As the USDA notes in Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency, your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power.
So, which appliances do power surges affect? “Heating and air conditioning systems, washers and dryers, water heaters, ranges and refrigerators, lighting, and entertainment systems” are at risk, according to Brenner.
Sometimes they last an hour or two; sometimes longer. Excessive demand can quickly spike, requiring companies to take fast action to protect the grid.
Before fainting, you may have sweaty palms, dizziness, lightheadedness, problems seeing, or nausea. In young people, the problem usually has no serious cause, though falls related to fainting can lead to injury. But in some cases, it can be due to an underlying heart problem that is more concerning.