The effects of surges on electronic appliances

It is noted that the dramatic increase of electronic equipment and appliances being used in homes, the topic of power quality and its relationship to appliance reliability has become important to both the utility company and the consumer. The authors subjected a total of 16 different clocks, television receivers, microwave ovens, and DC power supplies to three different transient overvoltage (surge) waveforms with amplitudes between 0.5 and 6 kV. All of these devices were operating from the AC supply mains when the overvoltage was applied. The switching power supplies and television receivers were damaged with surges between 4 and 6 kV. Surge protection is desirable for these vulnerable appliances. Three of five models of digital locks were upset (temporary malfunction) with surges between 1.5 and 6 kV.>