1. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo

2. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo POWER VIRUSES Preventing Electronic Influenza

3. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Session Objectives  Define basic power quality disturbances  Identify basic steps in providing quality power  Discuss ramifications of power problems  Outline preventative measures  Discuss the benefits of clean power

4. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo We’ve all had a virus....  The common cold, flu, or other virus related illness affect humans everyday.  The effects of a virus range from merely annoying to deadly.  Viruses enter our body unseen and announce their presence only after the damage has begun.

5. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Viruses affect software....  The computer industry discovered that similar problems can affect software.  Unwanted, malicious programs attach themselves to regular computer instructions.  The damage they cause ranges from annoying to disastrous.

6. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo We’re familiar with the idea...  Because we’re familiar with how our bodies react to organic viruses, the computer industry labeled these unwanted software programs as “software viruses.”  They hope our familiarity will cause us to exercise caution using software and to take time to do regular backups.

7. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo We’re familiar with viruses...  Once infected, the damage has begun.  The virus must run its course, either delaying, debilitating or destroying its victim.  Where viruses are concerned -- there is no cure. There is only prevention.

8. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo A New Kind of Virus  Power quality problems can affect computer systems, too.  These problems are so much like organic and software viruses that they can quite properly be labeled “Power Viruses.”

9. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Familiar Circumstances  Power viruses enter a computer system unseen.  By the time they announce their presence, the damage has already begun.  Like other viruses, the damage they cause ranges from annoying to disastrous.

10. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Familiar Circumstances  Power viruses result in the 3 D’s -- Disruption, Degradation, and Destruction  There is no cure for power viruses -- they can only be prevented using appropriate technology.  There are six main power viruses that pose problems for electronic systems

11. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Voltage Spikes and Impulses  Generated both inside and outside a facility  High voltage, high energy events capable of causing component destruction.  Prevented with a surge diverter

12. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Electrical Noise  Created as a by-product of the generation, distri- bution and use of electricity.  Low voltage, high frequency  Prevented by using a noise filter.

13. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Common Mode Voltage  Any voltage measured with reference to ground (L-G, N-G)  Disruptive to micro- processors. .5 volts maximum spec  Prevented only with an isolation transformer

14. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Voltage Regulation  Changes in amplitude of the nominal line voltage (sags, swells)  Cause the malfunction of linear supplies -- Not a problem for SMPS.  Prevented with a voltage regulator.

15. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Blackouts  Long term, complete loss of AC power  Usually associated with some environmental event  Prevented with a UPS, generator or battery bank

16. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Backdoor Disturbance  Most often overlooked  Enters systems through the backdoor (datalines, phone lines, I/O, etc.)  Prevented with fiber optics, opto-isolators, or over voltage devices

17. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo An Ounce of Prevention  Power viruses can be prevented through the intelligent application of the correct power conditioning device.  As with organic viruses, some prevention methods should be used in combination.

18. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Combined Prevention  Surge diverters and power line filters by themselves change normal mode disturbances into common mode disturbances.  Computers with switch mode power supplies (SMPS) are highly susceptible to common mode voltage problems.

19. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Combined Prevention  Isolation transformers prevent common mode voltage problems.  Surge diverters and power line filters should always be used in combination with an isolation transformer.  When used with SMPS, the isolation transformer must be low impedance.

20. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Combined Prevention  A power conditioner combining these three elements is the foundation for all effective power quality solutions.  If power outages (blackouts) are a problem, a battery and inverter can be combined with these other elements to provide a complete prevention solution.

21. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Don’t forget.....  Data lines, telephone connections, and network cables are the most often overlooked pathways for power viruses to enter an electronic system.  If the system has connections to the outside world, some method of protecting these points must be installed.

22. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo The Benefits  Prevent Disruption  Lockups  File corruption/data loss  Improper test results (medical and analytical instrumentation)  Data communications errors  Missed/delayed schedules

23. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo The Benefits  Prevent Degradation  Weakened or stressed components  Cumulative damage leading to failure  Unanticipated system downtime  Unreliable system operation

24. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo The Benefits  Prevent Destruction  Failed power supplies  Destroyed components  Burned, charred circuit boards

25. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo Like other viruses, power viruses can be prevented. Intelligent use of the correct power conditioning devices will increase system reliability performance, and productivity.

26. © 2001 POWERVAR, Inc. Your Logo We welcome your questions. Thank you for attending.