Prevent Electrical Damage to IT Assets

The seasons are changing, and storm weather is upon us, which means electronics everywhere are at risk of damage. Power surges can happen for several reasons, and with much of the business world going digital, it is important to understand what causes a power surge and how to prevent them from damaging IT assets. 

Power surges are typically caused by electrical overloads, such as faulty wiring, lighting strikes, or power restoration after an outage or blackout. Electronics cannot handle too much power at once, or it will cause damage to the device and, in extreme cases, battery fires. Large amounts of data are now being stored digitally in data centers, and preventing damage is critical in keeping enterprise data safe. 

There are several ways to help prevent damage if a power surge occurs and to prevent the surge itself from occurring: 

• Faulty wiring can cause electrical damage if poorly managed. This can be prevented by having an electrician inspect the home or office wiring for issues, especially in older buildings.
• The easiest method of device protection during power surges is to unplug devices. Whether at home or in the office, it is safest to unplug electronic devices during storms to prevent them from being affected if lightning strikes. 
• Surge protectors are another common method of protection against power surges. Using surge protectors like power strips and surge protector outlets helps block excess voltage from reaching electronics during a power surge.
• A potentially more expensive method of electrical protection is to install a whole-home surge processor, which is installed at the primary breaker box between an electrical system and the grid. The surge processor acts as a power strip for a building’s entire electrical system. 
• High-efficiency AC units are energy-efficient and less likely to cause a power surge because they draw less power. This reduces the risk of voltage spikes and can save consumers money on energy bills. 

If a power surge occurs and devices are damaged, proper e-waste management should be a top priority, especially if batteries are damaged. IT asset disposition facilities like HOBI ensure that retired IT assets are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner and that no data is leaked in the process. 

HOBI is an R2v3, RIOS, and ISO-14001 certified IT asset management and disposition enterprise with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. 

For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.