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Can A Power Outage Damage Your PS4?

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The PlayStation 4 is one of the most popular gaming consoles out there. However, the PlayStation 4 can sustain damage in many ways. If you live in an area prone to power outages, it is useful to consider – can the sudden outage harm your console?

A power outage can cause damage to a PlayStation 4. This typically happens due to the sudden surge and loss of electricity, which can harm the delicate wiring inside the PlayStation. Additionally, the power surge can trigger a system crash and wipe all of the data and memory on your PlayStation 4.

There are many different ways that a sudden loss of power can affect your PlayStation 4 console. However, if you want to learn more about them, you need to keep reading this article. Not only will we discuss how the harm occurs, but also what you can do to keep your PlayStation 4 safe. 

Will A Power Outage Harm My PlayStation Console?

There is absolutely a chance that a power outage does damage your PlayStation console, particularly if there are no protections in place. This damage occurs because the power suddenly is taken out of the equation, and there is a chance of a power surge before that happens.

This is why when you have an outage that you are aware will happen, the best practice is to unplug and switch off the console beforehand. In most cases, power outages occur due to internal conditions, while they can sometimes happen as a result of external factors, such as the weather. 

When the flow of electricity inside your house is interrupted, a power surge can occur. As a result of this, all of the wires inside the home face a sudden influx of power. This results in a lot of heat, which is why wires, such as the ones inside your PlayStation 4 console, can burn, break, and face other kinds of damage. 

When such a surge happens, aside from just the wires, your PlayStation 4 can also sustain significant damage to components. The biggest concern, in this case, is often the battery and power supply systems. 

The reasoning behind this is that, unlike more sophisticated systems, the Playstation 4 (link to Amazon) battery is vulnerable to damage by power surges. It is not designed with power surge protection in mind, and as a result, may shut down abruptly. Then, a surge of power can go through the system and damage other components as well. 

After the battery, the concern for components such as the motherboard, CPU, and crucial chips is also amplified in this scenario. These chips are so sensitive, they need a consistent and stable supply at the 120-V that the instructional manual specifies for the PlayStation 4.

If the power supply does not fit these requirements, the chips will not perform as well. However, if there is a sudden outage, they can become damaged, resulting in a major system crash. This is definitely not good news, as it can affect the PlayStation 4 software and cause it to completely shut down. 

As a result, you will have to either:

  • Carry out a system repair.
  • Reinstall the system.
  • Replace the console altogether. 

Finally, the biggest concern with a power outage is that the data on the internal hard drive can also be wiped out. Because of this, you may lose precious data and even years of information you collected while playing games on the console. 

Sometimes you get errors, like disc read errors, on your PS4 after a power outage. Then you might need to rebuild your database. If that happens, check out my article here about disc read errors.

How To Protect Your PlayStation From Power Outages

As mentioned above, the PlayStation 4 power system is not built to withstand power surges. Therefore, you cannot simply rely on the in-built system to protect in the case of a power surge. Instead, you can opt for two methods to protect your console – either a surge protector, an SSD drive, or an uninterrupted power supply (UPS).

Surge protectors (link to Amazon) are a more cost-effective option that can help to absorb power supplies that go over a limited voltage. So, if you can get one that limits power at 120 V, your PlayStation 4 console will remain safe. Protecting your PlayStation from power outages will help prevent the longevity of your console. I’ve written an in-depth article about the lifespan of a PS4 if you want to know more.

However, it is important to keep in mind that surge protectors do not help to prevent data loss through a system crash. In order to get that kind of protection, you can either use an uninterrupted power supply (UPS), or use an external hard drive. 

FeatureSurge ProtectorUninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)
FunctionalityActs as a power stripActs as a backup power service
Loss protectionLess effectiveMore effective
CostCheapExpensive

A comparison of surge protectors and UPS in safeguarding gaming consoles

A UPS helps to protect your console from outages and power surges. The way this works is that it utilizes a battery, and continues to provide power with little to no interruption when the power goes out. This gives you time to unplug the console. 

However, it is important to consider that the power supply a UPS can give you will only last for a short amount of time, likely just a few minutes or so. In this time, you can switch off your PlayStation 4 console, and unplug it from the power source. 

In order to protect the data from vulnerability to loss during a surge, you can use solid-state drives (SSD). These help to avoid power loss, and because these drives are often surge-proof, they are able to keep data safe even when there is an abrupt change in the power supply, or when the power supply is unstable. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about power surges and your console? Here are some answers you must be looking for!

Q1. Can I fix my PlayStation 4 after a power surge?

There are chances you may be able to repair your PlayStation 4 in case there is damage after a power surge. You can try a system repair, reinstallment, or you can attempt to get the console serviced by a professional. If nothing else works, you may have to get a replacement console.

Q2. How can I tell that my PlayStation 4 is damaged?

Your PlayStation may be damaged if there is a blinking blue light, if it cannot connect to your PSN account, or if it keeps crashing and freezing. If you see any of these signs, it is best to contact a professional for help. 

Final Note

Unfortunately, the PlayStation 4 does not come with a built-in system that can help protect it from power surges. However, with a few extra safety precautions, you can keep your console and all of your data completely safe. 

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