INTIP03

Use this procedure to isolate problems with external noise on AC voltage lines.

DANGER
When working on or around the system, observe the following precautions:

Electrical voltage and current from power, telephone, and communication cables are hazardous. To avoid a shock hazard:

Electrical noise on incoming ac voltage lines can cause various system failures. The most common source of electrical noise is lightning.

  1. Ask the customer if an electrical storm was occurring at the time of the failure to determine if lightning could have caused the failure.

    Could lightning have caused the failure?

  2. Determine if lightning protection devices are installed on the incoming ac voltage lines where they enter the building. There must be a dedicated ground wire from the lightning protection devices to earth ground.

    Are lightning protection devices installed?

  3. Have an installation planning representative perform the following:
    1. Connect a recording ac voltage monitor to the incoming ac voltage lines of the units that contain the failing devices with reference to ground.
    2. Set the voltage monitor to start recording at a voltage slightly higher than the normal incoming ac voltage.

    Does the system fail again with the same symptoms?

  4. Look at the recording and see if the voltage monitor recorded any noise when the failure occurred. Did the monitor record any noise when the failure occurred?