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Chapter 6
Power Quality Issues
Power Quality Background
Why Is It Such a Concern?
Many people blame the power utility for degrading
power when, in most cases, the problem is caused by
poor power distribution within a facility. Equipment such
as computers, TVs, phone systems, alarm systems,
process controls and even the heating, ventilation and
air conditioning system in your building use
microprocessor technology to function. As a result, you
must ensure that your electrical environment has good
power to ensure reliable system operation.
Studies have found that most power line disturbances
are caused by the equipment being operated inside a
building and that few are utility generated. Lightning,
wildlife, and human contact with transmission lines are
the major contributors to power line disturbances on the
distribution grid.
Major causes of power line disturbances in a building
are:
• Overloaded circuits
• Power factor correction capacitors
• Fast switching of large loads
• Incorrect or poor wiring connections
The Effects of Poor Power Quality within Your
Organization
Power line disturbances can cause far more trouble
than just equipment damage. By looking at it from a cost
perspective, one can see that there is a far larger loss
from poor power quality.