Brown Out's

[Nietz001]

I'm having a lot of trouble trying to figure out why the building I maintain is having power brown out issues. Everything I check seems to be installed correctly. No large power consumption, no motor or lighting loads. Transformers well grounded. What could be causing the brown-outs?
Jeff
When I say brown-out what I'm being told is lights are dimming, UPS's are coming online for a few seconds and then returning to normal. The problem seems to be spead over a entire floor including several panels. The issue can take place several times a week or as few as once a month.

[ December 15, 2005, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: Nietz001 ]

 

[zog]

Re: Brown Out's

Start by calling the utillity and see if they are having any issues, when they tell you everything is fine in your area, get some power monitors installed to analyze the problem.

 

[bob]

Re: Brown Out's

When you say "brown outs" what are you experiencing? What kind of problems? How often?

 

[charlie b]

Re: Brown Out's

What we have here is an excellent opportunity to let language get in the way of communication.

I would like to echo Bob's questions. In my view, a "Blackout" is a complete loss of power, and a "Brownout" is a lowering (not loss) of voltage. In a "Brownout," the lights get dim, but stay on, and certain other items are at risk of damage from the low voltage.

So what do you mean, when you use the word "Brownout"?

 

[physis]

Re: Brown Out's

I'd be measuring current and voltages starting at the service if the condition lasts long enough to catch it.

Edit: Error D

(For our new Chief Moderator)

Error D is a missing letter. This condition has become common place in my posts lately due the unreasonable need to use a hammer on some of the keyboards I've been using if I actually need the character to appear.

[ December 15, 2005, 06:24 PM: Message edited by: physis ]

 

[james wuebker]

Re: Brown Out's

If you have a fluke 87 meter clamp it on the main and start recording voltages. This will let you know if your getting a voltage drop. It will tell you your min. max. and give you an average. Clamp it on for a couple of days or until you have this problem again and see what your voltages drop down to. I bet it's the transformer or the high voltage lines feeding the transformer.
Jim