IT devices may exhibit electrical input current with a characteristic called “leading power factor”. This situation may cause back-up generators to become unstable and shut down. Furthermore, a data center that is operating correctly for a long time may suddenly develop a problem as the IT load changes over time, or during an unusual event. This means that it is important to understand the margin of safety and correct for this condition before it happens. This paper explains the problem, why and how it occurs, and how to detect and correct it.
