How to Monitor and Mitigate Power Drops in Your Facility

img_alt: How to Monitor and Mitigate Power Drops in Your Facility by George Galea

Facility managers are no strangers to electrical hiccups. One of the most common and most overlooked is the power drop, also called a voltage sag. These short dips in voltage often last only milliseconds, but their effects can disrupt operations, damage sensitive equipment, and quietly erode asset life. The good news is that with the right monitoring and mitigation strategies, facility managers can stay ahead of these issues and protect their operations.

What Is a Power Drop?

A power drop occurs when voltage briefly falls below its standard level, typically by 10 to 20 percent. Unlike a blackout, power is still flowing, but not at the level needed for certain equipment to function correctly. The result can be equipment resets, nuisance tripping, or even premature failures.

While some power drops originate from the utility grid, many are caused inside facilities. For example, large motors or HVAC systems can start up and draw a surge of current, creating a voltage dip.

Why Facility Managers Should Care

At first glance, a voltage sag may not seem like a big deal. But when left unchecked, power drops create a series of costly problems:

• Unexpected downtime from tripped systems or rebooting controls

• Cumulative damage to motors, drives, and sensitive electronics

• Reduced energy efficiency as equipment operates under stress

• Increased maintenance costs from premature wear

For facilities that operate around the clock or rely on critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, data centers, and airports, even a momentary disruption can have significant financial and reputational consequences.

How to Monitor Power Drops

Power Quality Monitoring

Install power quality meters or advanced monitoring systems to continuously track voltage levels. These tools capture dips that are too fast for humans to notice but have real consequences for equipment.

Electrical Signature Analysis

Go beyond just recording drops. With electrical signature analysis, facility managers can pinpoint whether the source of the sag is external (utility-related) or internal (equipment startup, faulty wiring, short circuits).

Trend Analysis and Reporting

Collecting data is only half the job. By trending events over weeks and months, you can identify recurring patterns, justify upgrades, and provide executives with clear evidence of how power quality issues affect operations.

How to Mitigate Power Drops

Strengthen Facility Infrastructure

• Inspect and maintain electrical connections and distribution panels

• Upgrade aging infrastructure that may be prone to faults

Manage Equipment Startups

• Use soft starters or variable frequency drives (VFDs) to reduce the inrush current that causes sags when motors come online

• Stagger equipment startup schedules to avoid simultaneous demand spikes

Protective Devices

• Install uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to shield sensitive equipment

• Consider voltage regulators or conditioners for systems that require a stable input

Collaboration with Utilities

If monitoring reveals that sags are originating upstream, facility managers can collaborate with the utility provider to address grid-side issues. Having the data on hand strengthens the case for faster resolution.

How Volta Insite Can Help

Monitoring and mitigating power drops requires more than just hardware. It requires actionable insights. Volta Insite’s InsiteAI platform combines advanced electrical signature analysis with AI-driven reporting to give facility managers a clear view of power quality in their facilities.

With InsiteAI, you can:

• Detect and analyze power drops in real time

• Identify whether the cause is internal or utility-based

• See how power quality events affect critical assets

• Prevent downtime and extend the lifespan of equipment

• Justify investments with data-backed reports for executives

Power drops may be brief, but their consequences are long-lasting. By proactively monitoring and mitigating them, facility managers can protect operations, cut costs, and build a stronger case for smart investments. With InsiteAI, you gain the visibility and tools to keep your facility running reliably, no matter what the grid throws your way.