Electrical brownouts

ic1male

ic1male

ic1male

Caporegime
Joined
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Posts
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Location
Chestershire
We had one today at dinner. Everyone's alarms went off, the microwave clock reset, the toaster could barely toast and my desktop fan was whirring pathetically slow. I thought it was broke.

After about ten minutes everything returned to normal functionality. I've never in my life experienced such a thing before. Needless to say, I had to research on the web to see what was happening and it turns out it could have been a brownout where the voltage drops. I didn't realise they could last so long though. Normally just a wee second or two.

Anyone else ever had one?
 
ic1male said:
We had one today at dinner. Everyone's alarms went off, the microwave clock reset, the toaster could barely toast and my desktop fan was whirring pathetically slow. I thought it was broke.

After about ten minutes everything returned to normal functionality. I've never in my life experienced such a thing before. Needless to say, I had to research on the web to see what was happening and it turns out it could have been a brownout where the voltage drops. I didn't realise they could last so long though. Normally just a wee second or two.

Anyone else ever had one?
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Only in work, surprised its happening on the domestic grid. Maybe an issue with a local transformer. Or someone in the area is being naughty and is running equipment on the grid without permission or conditioning
 
You are asking if anyone else has ever had a brownout?

I suspect most have even if they haven't noticed it. Get them periodically at work, quite a few over the years some of which were long enough to down the computers before the lights came back on.

Had a few blacksouts at home last year, couple of hours over two evenings. Quite irritating mainly because the battery powered alarms were piercing the silence..
 
The term brownout makes me smile. Yes, I am a child. Yes, I am comfortable with that.
 
Funny enough we had one last month, which is the first time I recall a power cut in 10 or 15 years.
 
had a set of three in a row in nottingham a couple of months ago

i was considering getting one of those ups things buy seemed too expensive tbh
 
Not noticed any around here. A good quality ATX PSU should be able to handle as low as 90V or even 85V anyway, so I don't think for a PC voltage will be a problem.
 
I thought this thread was about those times when you switch on a plug or dont quite pull it out correctly and you see that blue flash and get a little bit of a shock.


And then you **** your pants.


Thats not what an electrical brownout is then? Well u learn something new everyday heh :cool:
 
Had one I think in December/January. Power went out around 1am, came back a few minutes later but the lights were really dim etc, lasted quite a while. Contacted SSE and they were really good, had people out early the next morning checking on the overhead lines, phoned to explain what they were doing to solve the problem and even sent me a text the following day with further explanation.
 
TheVoice said:
Had one I think in December/January. Power went out around 1am, came back a few minutes later but the lights were really dim etc, lasted quite a while. Contacted SSE and they were really good, had people out early the next morning checking on the overhead lines, phoned to explain what they were doing to solve the problem and even sent me a text the following day with further explanation.
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And what did the text say? You can't tell half a story, what was the reason for it?
 
panyan said:
had a set of three in a row in nottingham a couple of months ago

i was considering getting one of those ups things buy seemed too expensive tbh
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What do you call expensive?

I've seen UPS systems for as little as £50 although they don't last long when the power is off. Enough time to save and shutdown properly at this end of the market.

I was lucky enough to get one that lasts around 25 mins for free. Guy said if I can fix it, I can have it. It had a battery fault and it was identical to my motorcycle's battery. Since I had an expensive charger that could "repair" batteries I gave it a go and it fixed the fault. The UPS has been sat under my desk working fine for nearly 4 years now :D
 
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Monkeynut said:
Not noticed any around here. A good quality ATX PSU should be able to handle as low as 90V or even 85V anyway, so I don't think for a PC voltage will be a problem.
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That's interesting, we've had them here in the past and whilst everything else (lights, TV, phone etc.) dimmed or switched off the PC didn't even flicker.
 
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