At this time of year, we not only have to deal with load shedding but in some parts of SA, with thunderstorms brewing in the afternoon resulting in quick downpours and lightning strikes.
Also, taking into account the fluctuating and unstable power supply caused by load-shedding, businesses’ most critical assets in their server rooms may be damaged, not of the initial power outage, but rather due to surges or power spikes when the power comes back on.
This increases financial and operational pressure on businesses, as servers and other expensive equipment housed in data centres take a hit. For that reason, many come up with theories about whether it would be better to switch off electronic equipment before the power goes off or switch the power switches off before the power comes back on again.
According to CEO Inus Dreckmeyr, businesses must rather plan power management and monitoring in their business, consider taking a holistic approach, and deploy multiple devices. Businesses must also consider the nature of power surges or spikes, as they are never identical in nature. They can differ in terms of voltage and can last either for a long or short period of time –impacting the severity of damage caused.
Fast reacting devices at the leading edge as well as the bulk absorption and slower reacting components will ensure that the bulk energy is consumed by the protection devices. It is important to use the appropriate monitorable device that ensures prompt alerting on failures.