Power Brown Out

[Industrial Toys]

Experienced one of those for the first time today. Ran down and shut off main switch. So I never had a chance to measure voltage before the power went out entirely.

Started Generator, no Problem.

Ontario Hydro Outage Map Indicated 680 customers out, crews dispatched, under investigation, pending classification, restoral estimate about three hours. How would they know that?

What do brownouts damage? I know compressors. But after how long?

What else is worth knowing about the effects of brown outs?

 

[oosik]

Due to voltage fluctuation during a brown out - most any type of electronics can be damaged. My APC, standby power supply, will kick in if voltage drops below 116V or above 124V. It protects my computer, satellite interface, external data storage units & printer.

Most all the other electronic devices in the house are normally off. I do have voltage protection on my TV, satellite interface, surround sound & DVD/CD unit.

Strange - it never has had a negative effect on the refrigerator or freezer.

 

[radios1]

brownouts can damage starting capacitors on any ac induction motor that use a starting capacitor if the brownout lasts longer than 3 seconds, that's all those starting capacitors are rated for, and they DO get very hot approaching the 3 seconds!.. as far as electronics go, anything with a HDD or SSD can be corrupted, not permanently, but will require a rebuild of the data structure if the device was writing at the time of the brownout.. most other electronics will just stop working during a brownout!..

 

[Industrial Toys]

Thanks for the replies. Many appliances that are turned off are indeed still on. Maybe not doing their work, but powered up, like dishwasher electronics and microwaves. I'm guessing switching power supplies found in just about everything, also don't like brownouts.

Heavy rains here on and off. Now hydro site indicates a four o clock restoration and cause, tree on line. Number of customers affected has increased which makes no sense to me. The feed for our local TS is in a wide corridor. Hardly imagine any trees near those lines.

 

[radios1]

Thanks for the replies. Many appliances that are turned off are indeed still on. Maybe not doing their work, but powered up, like dishwasher electronics and microwaves. I'm guessing switching power supplies found in just about everything, also don't like brownouts.

that's standby mode, it draws so little power, it's not worth considering, pennies per year.. and won't be damaged by a brownout!..

 

[Industrial Toys]

So you don't think a brown out would hurt the DC, probably switching supply in a microwave, trying to "Start"?. I used to replace inrush resistors on the switching psu's of NEC phone systems all the time.

 

[grsthegreat]

Brownouts can also damage automatic transfer switches. Especially Generacs 電umb switch. Not enough power to pull contactor completely closed...Keeps powering coil until they fry. I added a brownout kit to my own unit as we do experience them. No problem switching to emergency side as the generator poweres it. but when utility is partially restored under brownout conditions this can cause issues.

 

[radios1]

So you don't think a brown out would hurt the DC, probably switching supply in a microwave, trying to "Start"?. I used to replace inrush resistors on the switching psu's of NEC phone systems all the time.

a poorly designed switching supply yeah, a properly designed unit would have temperature and current limiting..

 

[Industrial Toys]

I installed one Generac Generator and Transfer switch for a customer at his cottage years ago. I got a call one day about the transfer switch acting crazy until it destroyed itself and that apparently was during a brownout.

 

[mikester]

Experienced one of those for the first time today. Ran down and shut off main switch. So I never had a chance to measure voltage before the power went out entirely.

Started Generator, no Problem.

Ontario Hydro Outage Map Indicated 680 customers out, crews dispatched, under investigation, pending classification, restoral estimate about three hours. How would they know that?

What do brownouts damage? I know compressors. But after how long?

What else is worth knowing about the effects of brown outs?

One thing to worry about is power surges along with the brown outs when power gets restored. Consider getting a whole home surge suppressor. Some home insurers give you a discount if you have one installed..discount paid for mine in 2 years.