A brownout is a partial reduction of voltage. You still have some electricity and your devices may operate at a limited capacity. Manufacturers design heating and lighting systems to operate at low voltage. You may notice no difference in your heating before and after the brownout occurs. But computers and electric motors can suffer from brownout damage. They may begin to overheat, which can damage them after a few hours.
Some brownouts are intentional. A utility company may experience extremely high demand. To avoid causing too much stress to their system, they will decrease the voltage they put out.
During an emergency like a natural disaster, utility providers may be unable to provide full power to everyone. They provide some electricity to all of their consumers instead of full power for a few people.
Other brownouts are unintentional. The electric grid may malfunction, or their power plant may suffer a shutdown. This causes the utility provider to scale back operations in order to make repairs. The best way to prepare for a brownout is to make sure that one never occurs. Get a home backup generator. When your utility provider stops giving you electricity, you can switch to the generator. Try to decrease your reliance on electricity. Turn your appliances off when you are not using them, especially during high-demand times like holidays.
Switch to appliances like stoves that are powered by natural gas. When a brownout occurs, turn your non-essential appliances off. Unplug your computers and other sensitive electronics. If they seem hot, place them in locations where they can cool down. Switch to batteries on entertainment devices and lighting sources.
You may be the only one on your block experiencing a brownout. Step outside and see if your neighbors have power. If they do, contact your utility provider and see what is going on. Remain calm. Your utility provider knows how to fix a brownout. Once the demand for electricity decreases, you will receive full power again. A blackout is a complete loss of electricity.
Electronic appliances shut off, including lighting. Also, when your power eventually comes back, the voltages wildly bounce around for a moment power surges. Those fluctuations can also harm your electronic devices.
Have another electrical question for a Sarasota electrician? Ask our experts! Are They Bad for Computers? January 20, A brownout is an extended event , on the other hand, lasting for several minutes or even hours. When a building is affected by a brownout, the cause can be external or internal:. When a brownout is due to external causes, you should focus on protecting your electrical devices.
On the other hand, if the brownout cause is inside your property, you can get an electrical inspection to find a solution. The effects of brownouts are not the same for all electrical appliances. The effect is similar for resistance heaters, which experience a reduction of their heat output. Other devices are more vulnerable to brownouts , in particular those with electric motors or electronic components:.
Electricity companies are aware of the negative effects of brownouts. When they are caused intentionally, the decision is a last resort to prevent infrastructure damage or major blackouts. In general, you should avoid exposing your electrical appliances to brownouts , especially those appliances with motors or electronic components. You can do this by installing a brownout protection device called an UPS. Just like a circuit breaker protects against excessive current, an undervoltage relay can disconnect your devices when the voltage drops too much.
However, these relays are only recommended for sensitive appliances, since they add costs to your electrical installations. Purchase an UPS or brownout protection device. Uninterruptible power supplies UPS often have voltage regulation capacity, and they can keep a stable voltage output even when the voltage supply from the power grid fluctuates. UPS devices are normally used to ensure a stable power source for critical devices, such as data centers that host important applications.
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