Answer to Question #12936 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Medical and Dental Equipment/Shielding — Equipment

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Q

Can power surges (i.e., from turning on/off at socket, lightning, faulty wiring, etc.) to an x-ray machine create any significant radiation or background scatter?

A

The short answer is "No," power surges to an x ray machine will not cause the production of x rays. I spoke with a biomedical engineer (person who installs and services x-ray equipment) and he said that a number of things must happen in order for an x-ray unit to create x rays. These include, but are not limited to, closing an electrical contact, pre-heating the x-ray filament, and applying high voltage across the x-ray tube. Although a power surge will not cause these things to all happen, he said it is very possible that it will cause damage to one or more components of the x-ray unit.

Ken "Duke" Lovins, CHP

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