The most important thing you need to understand about power outages is the difference between brownouts and blackouts. While both can potentially be remedied or prevented through the help of a local electrician, they’re actually quite different. Let’s look into these two separate power issues and try to understand what we can do about them.
What Is A Brownout?
A brownout is a partial power outage. Essentially, brownouts occur when there is a dip in the voltage in an electrical power supply system. At times, brownouts can occur intentionally, as they can be utilized for a load reduction in an emergency. Typically, you’ll notice a brownout when your incandescent lights dim. You may not be losing your power entirely, but it is an inconvenience and can still leave you scrambling for candles or flashlights, depending on the severity of the brownout.
What Is A Blackout?
A blackout is much more severe than a brownout. During a blackout, there is a complete shutdown of all electrical activity. Usually, a blackout occurs during a shutdown of the power grid, which will deprive not only one household of electricity, but several. Typically, a blackout needs to be resolved through the interference of your power company. People can go without power for anywhere from hours to even days due to blackouts.
How Do We Prevent Blackouts and Brownouts?
As previously mentioned, brownouts can sometimes be intentional; but they often aren’t, and blackouts are rarely intentional. Nobody wants to deal with these issues. As such, you should work with your local electrician to prevent these types of electrical issues.
They’re often linked to weather issues, with 70% of all power outages resulting from severe weather or natural disasters. Speak with your local electrician about generators that you can buy in case of an electrical outage. For that matter, disconnect your appliances and electronics when you aren’t using them, to avoid power surges.
There are many things that you need to consider when you’re trying to avoid a blackout or brownout. Just make sure that you’re working with an electrician. If you’re struggling with blackouts or brownouts and need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team today.
