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Voltage Problem

47akak

For a half hour before the power was totally cut the local area experienced a voltage issue. All of the electronic devices which can utilise American and UK standard voltages (so 110V & 230V) stayed on, anything using 230V stayed off, though some LEDs and lighting stayed on dimly lit (eg my refrigerator lights).

I would have thought there are safety features in the distribution network preventing this, and surely it is dangerous and wildly destructive of a wide range of appliances.

Before I ask ESB about it I just want to canvass a couple of opinions. Someone told me the undervoltage situation can't happen but it very definitely did happen here, for an extended period. I suspect it has happened before but I'm only certain on this occasion.

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10-10-20

This appears to have been reported by another user too:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058220661/electricity-went-out-for-a-moment

I don't have much to add otherwise as I don't know what under-volt protections are applied, but I'd guess that if the under-voltage is upsteam of a safety device, it might go unnoticed.

Bruthal.

Undervoltage can happen if for example, 1 phase is gone on the supply to a transformer. With only 2 phases on the primary, the secondary side will have reduced output.

Need a Username

I don’t know why I have been included in this thread

Cerco

This event is known as brownout. I experienced this many years ago and it can damage equipment due to increased current.

CoBo55

I've had it a few times ups kicked in to protect my devices, I have 4 they're definitely a worthwhile investment.

[Deleted User]

we had this once due to a failed neutral and it wrecked the electronics in a bathroom fan

Bruthal.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118341051#Comment_118341051

That may have been overvoltage, which often happens with a failed neutral outside of a single phase premises/house in a housing estate or group of houses, although it will be acompanied by other houses having low voltage at the same time.

[Deleted User]

Well, the LED lights started flickering and the couple of non-LED ones went very dim. The fan ran really, really slowly and I couldn't switch it off in time.

Bruthal.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118344404#Comment_118344404

Yea maybe the neutral to the house itself failed in your case, which usually does cause low voltage in a neutralised house with any loads on.

Either scenario can happen when its the star point neutral that fails, for example at a minipillar, depending on what loads are in the affected group of houses, voltage (400v) divides according to load sizes in different houses.

[Deleted User]

It’s a neutralised supply fed underground. What happened was a contractor dug up a cable further up the street.

Probably 1960s-70s era infrastructure