effects of brownouts

[cvirgil]

Anyone know the effects of a brownouts on electronic equpment (Computers, servers)? My thoughts are lockups and lost data but a co worker is saying that brownouts can actually burn up the circuit boards.

If brownouts actually burn up the circuits boards what type of protection is available? Have the UPS switch on after dipping below 85% of voltage?

 

[rbulsara]

While both scenarios are possible..more likely is that the equipmnet will turn off or lose data. Device damage would be rare.

A proper solution is to have an on-line UPS system. That is load is always fed via a UPS. The UPS draws from the battery only when there is a low voltage condtion on input of the UPS which would include brown outs or a power outage. UPS will maintain acceptable voltage to the critical equipment all time as long as the batteries are good.

 

[itsmoked]

adding to rbulsara's statement, when the batteries drop to a certain point the UPS will instantly stop the power not brownout.

 

[BrianR]

Brownouts can cause motors to overheat but electronic equipment works OK till the regulated power supplies reach their limit. What happens then is uncertain but it shouldn't involve burnout although you can expect the computers to fall over.

A UPS sized for the job is what you need. They will take over at a predetermined threshold and run until their batteries are nearly flat then they send a shutdown signal to the servers for an orderly shutdown.