To begin with, here is a (non-exhaustive) list of governing documents:
1. “Federal Law of the Russian Federation “On Electric Power Industry” dated March 26, 2003 N35-FZ”
2. Government Decree No. 530 “rules for the functioning of retail electricity markets”
3.Regulations on the Guarantee Supplier
4. Government Decree No. 861 “Rules for the technological connection of power receiving devices (power installations) of legal entities and individuals to electrical networks
(approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated December 27, 2004 No. 861) (as amended on August 31, 2006)
(as amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated March 21, 2007 No. 168)
5. Government Decree No. 307 “rules for the provision of public services to citizens” dated May 23, 2006.
6. ZoZPP, Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated September 29, 1994. No. 7 “On the practice of courts considering cases on the protection of consumer rights as amended by Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated November 21, 2000 No. 32.
7. "Customer Service Standard".
8. Civil Code Subsection 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS ON OBLIGATIONS; Subsection 2. GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT
§ 6. Energy supply, and here’s another thing: According to clause 5.2 of OST 13109-97, voltage deviation from the nominal voltage is allowed plus minus 5% with peak surges of 10%.
Refer to this in the text of the complaint.
Standard claim form:
Claim
due to unsatisfactory quality
utilities
To the director ______________________________
(please provide full name
performer and his address)
from _____________________________________
(indicate your last name, first name,
________________________________________
patronymic and address)
From "__" __________ ___ I live (or am the owner
apartments) in a building served by your organization (order
dated _________ N __, privatization agreement dated _________ N __).
As a provider of utility services, your organization
is obliged to provide me as a consumer with services that comply
in terms of quality, mandatory requirements of standards, sanitary
rules and regulations, established standards and terms of the contract, and
also information about utilities.
Consumer properties and mode of service provision should
comply with established heat supply standards,
electricity supply, cold and hot supply, sewerage,
gas supply.
I fulfill my obligations: I regularly pay for utilities
services.
Your organization is not fulfilling its obligations properly
way. Inadequate execution resulted in __________.
These violations contradict the requirements of the Law of the Russian Federation "On
protection of consumer rights", according to which the contractor is obliged
provide a service whose quality complies with the terms of the contract,
Rules for the provision of public services to citizens, and the consumer
has the right to ensure that public services are safe for
his life, health, and did not cause damage to his property.
Based on Art. 27 - 31 of the Law of the Russian Federation "On the Protection of Rights
consumers", Rules for the provision of public services to citizens
Please:
Within _________, using your own resources and resources free of charge
eliminate these shortcomings by performing the following work: _______
____________________________.
Please provide your answer in writing.
If my claim is rejected, I will be forced to contact
court for the protection of their consumer rights and, in addition to the above,
I will demand compensation for what was done to me
What to do if the quality of electricity does not meet the required parameters
Many consumers have faced the problem of poor-quality utility services or unacceptable interruptions in their supply. What to do in this case, as well as what measures the consumer can take to receive quality services. It’s worth mentioning right away that in accordance with the Rules for the provision of utility services, in the event of the provision of low-quality services, or the permissible interruption in their supply is exceeded, the consumer has the right to demand a recalculation of the cost of utility services, down to 0. In other words, if the consumer is supplied with low-quality utility resources and the contractor utilities refuses to take measures (or does not take measures) to bring their quality into line, then the consumer can consume these low-quality utilities, but is not obliged to pay for them in full.
In general, what does “poor quality electricity” mean and what parameters exist for its assessment. According to GOST 13109-97, the main quality parameters can be divided into three main subgroups:
- deviation of frequency and voltage from specified values;
- voltage non-sinusoidality, voltage asymmetry;
- Voltage dips, voltage pulses, temporary overvoltage.
All of the above quality indicators are important in the stable and durable operation of consumer electrical receivers. Consequently, if there is a deviation of quality parameters from those established by GOST, this can lead not only to a decrease in the service life of electrical receivers, but even to their failure. Especially often, with various deviations of parameters from established quality indicators, washing machines and refrigerators break down, and the service life of lighting equipment (incandescent lamps, etc.) is significantly reduced. Those. The reasons why a consumer’s refrigerator, washing machine or other electrical appliances burned out may very often be the supply of low-quality electricity
In addition, the deviation of some electricity quality indicators from the specified parameters can even affect human health. This indicator is called the “flicker dose” - the degree of flickering of the light flux on the “fatigue” of a person’s vision due to the influence of voltage fluctuations.
Signs of poor quality electrical energy
- Periodic flickering of lamps,
- Rapid failure (burnout) of lamps,
- Irregularities in the operation of office equipment,
- Malfunctions of devices and equipment (especially sensitive electronic equipment),
So, what actions can a consumer take if he is supplied with low-quality electricity?
It is proposed to consider two options:
1. At a certain point in time, the consumer was supplied with low-quality electricity, which led to the failure of the consumer’s electrical appliances.
2. The supply of low-quality electricity is regular, periodic and recurring. Most often, there is low voltage in the network or slightly reduced voltage in the network. As a result, the service life of electrical receivers is reduced, difficulties may arise in their operation, which ultimately affects the life of the consumer. (for example, daily voltage drop in the evening hours).
Option 1. For example, consider the situation that for some reason a consumer’s refrigerator or washing machine burned out, presumably due to a short-term increase in voltage (overvoltage). What should the consumer do in this case:
Firstly, if the warranty period for household appliances has already expired, or the warranty has not yet expired, but the warranty card states that the manufacturer is not liable to the buyer in the event of failure of the household appliance due to violation of the rules of its operation, then When constructing a household appliance, it is necessary to submit it for examination to an authorized service center, which can indicate in the report drawn up the reasons for the failure (for example, a sharp increase in the voltage level not provided for by the manufacturer).
After receiving such an act, you can safely write a claim for voluntary compensation for the cost of a failed household appliance to the guaranteeing supplier with whom you have an energy supply agreement (which may not be in writing). The claim is written in two copies and one copy is transferred to the guaranteeing supplier, the second copy is marked with receipt. If the claim is not satisfied, go to court with an application for compensation for the cost of failed metering devices. It is worth noting that the court, in the presence of all the necessary documents (receipts, act, copy of the claim), as a rule, takes the side of the consumer and recovers from the electricity supplier not only the cost of the metering devices that came out, but also the cost of the examination, the services of a lawyer (if they were resorted to ), etc.
Option 2. As an example, let’s consider a situation where the quality of a consumer’s electricity does not meet the standards for a long time. For example, the voltage level in an apartment, instead of 220V throughout the day, does not exceed 200V, and on winter evenings it can even drop to 190V. That is. the fact of low voltage in the network is obvious. What should the consumer do in this case:
Both as amended by the “new” rules for the provision of utility services, which were approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 6, 2011 No. 354 and come into force on September 1, 2012, and as amended by the “old” rules for the provision of utility services approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 23, 2012. 2006 No. 307, currently in force, Appendix 1 to the rules states that in the event of a voltage deviation from the requirements of the legislation on technical regulation, for each hour of supply of electricity that does not comply with the standards, the amount of payment for electricity supply is reduced by 0.15% of the amount payment determined for such billing period. It is worth noting that the amount of payment for electricity can be reduced to 0. The main regulatory document that describes the parameters of electricity quality is GOST 13109-97 “Electricity quality standards in general power supply systems.” Thus, the maximum permissible standard for steady-state voltage deviation should not exceed 10% of the standard level.
Thus, if the voltage is established at a level of 198 V or lower, it is necessary to request a recalculation of the cost of supplied electricity.
The Rules for the Provision of Public Utility Services have a corresponding section that defines the procedure for establishing the facts of the provision of public services of inadequate quality. Thus, if it is discovered that utility services are of inadequate quality, the consumer must report this in writing or orally to the Provider of utility services (homeowners association, management company). Of course, it is better to do this in writing in two copies, on the second copy put a mark on the date of sending the notification). After this, if the Utility Service Provider was unaware of the provision of services of inadequate quality, the date and time of verification of the fact of a violation of the quality of electricity is agreed upon with the consumer, i.e. measuring the quality of electricity. The inspection time is set no later than 2 hours from the moment of receipt of the message from the consumer, unless another time is agreed upon. If the utility service provider insists that the electricity is of adequate quality, but the consumer does not agree, then an examination of the quality of electricity may be initiated, which must be carried out by an independent organization.
If the quality of electricity does not meet the standards, the consumer has the right to demand recalculation of its cost every month until its parameters are restored to the required level. In this case, as mentioned above, after recalculation, the cost of electricity may even be equal to 0.
For example, if the voltage below 198 V was installed for 666 hours in a row or in total for a month, its cost for the month should be reduced by 100% (0.15% for each hour of discrepancy).
Thus, if the quality of electricity does not meet established standards, and the utility provider does not take prompt measures to correct the situation, the consumer may demand a recalculation of the cost of electricity, incl. and in court.
It is worth mentioning that recently electricity metering devices with the function of continuously measuring the quality of electricity, the so-called “electricity quality meters,” have become available for sale. However, so far only three-phase electricity meters have this function, which cannot be installed in ordinary apartments.
P.s. The rules for the provision of utilities also assume a 0.15% reduction in the cost of electricity per month in the event of interruptions in the supply of electricity (power outages) exceeding 24 hours in a row for each hour the 24-hour mark is exceeded.
Unfortunately, no information.
The effect of input voltage “sagging” below the established norm is a fairly common problem. It is more typical for power supply in rural areas, but its manifestations can often be observed by city dwellers. It is known that low voltage in the network leads to malfunctions of household appliances, a decrease in their power and premature failure. These reasons are enough to not leave things to chance and take decisive measures to eliminate or reduce voltage surges.
Causes of voltage sag
There are certain requirements for the electrical network, they are given in GOST 13109 97. It states that long-term voltage deviations from the nominal voltage are possible within 10% (-5% and +5%). In addition, short-term voltage surges of up to 20% of the nominal value (from -10% to +10%) are allowed. That is, at a norm of 220 volts, a long-term “sag” to 209.0 V will not be critical, as will a short-term drop to 198.0 V. A voltage drop beyond the specified limits (for example, to 180 Volts) indicates that the network parameters are not meet established standards.
It is important to establish the nature of voltage sags, otherwise eliminating the consequences will be ineffective. Problems with the electrical network may be due to the following reasons:
In the first three cases, it is not possible to eliminate the cause on your own, but you can file a complaint with the energy supply company against the electricity supplier (this will be discussed in detail in another section). Paragraphs 4-6 indicate malfunctions in home electrical networks, so such problems are solved by electricity consumers on their own or by hiring specialists for this purpose.
The influence and consequences of low voltage on electrical appliances
Low voltage affects household electrical appliances as follows:
Based on the above, it can be stated that those devices whose design includes an electric motor or compressor are most susceptible to the harmful effects of low (low) voltage. These include most household power tools, refrigeration units, pumping equipment, etc. The built-in protection of such equipment may not allow the devices to be turned on if the voltage fluctuates or is significantly below normal. Abnormal operating modes reduce equipment resources, which leads to a reduction in service life.
Equipment equipped with switching power supplies with a wide range of input voltages is less susceptible to influence. The “subsidence” is practically not reflected in the heating equipment; the only thing that is observed is a decrease in power compared to normal voltage. The exception is electronically controlled devices.
Ways to solve the problem
It is necessary to start by identifying the reason that led to the “subsidence” of electrical energy. Let us describe in detail the algorithm of actions:
If the voltage is within normal limits without load, but after connecting the internal network it sags, then we can state that the problem is local in nature and will have to be solved on its own. First of all, it is necessary to check the input circuit breaker, since a weak contact at its input or output can cause a “sag” in the voltage.
As a rule, in cases with poor electrical contact, a lot of heat is generated in the problem area, which leads to deformation of the AB housing. In such cases, it is necessary to replace the protective device. Since there is a high voltage at the input of the device, such work must be performed by a specialist with the 3rd clearance group; replacing it yourself is life-threatening.
- If everything is in order with the AV and no defects are found, you should check the compliance of the cross-section of the input cable. For this purpose, you can use the table shown in Figure 2. If necessary, replace the wire.
- In the event that checking the cable and CB does not produce results (the circuit breaker is normal and the cable corresponds to the load), the outlet should be checked. A melted case or sparking when connecting a load indicates unreliable contact, therefore, it is necessary to reconnect.
Please note that all installation work “before the meter” must be carried out by specialists from the service provider (if the contract is concluded directly) or the management company.
Everything is much more complicated when there are external causes. Upgrading the line or transformers at a substation can take years. In such cases, installing a stabilizer will help raise the voltage to an acceptable level.
The voltage stabilizer shown in the figure has an operating range from 90.0 to 270 Volts and is designed for loads up to 10.0 kVA. Devices of this type are installed on the entire house or apartment, that is, there is no need to protect each household appliance separately. The cost of electronic voltage stabilizers is about $200-$300, which is definitely cheaper than buying new equipment to replace broken ones.
You can also raise the voltage to the proper level by connecting your home network through a step-up transformer. This method of solving the problem is unsuccessful, since normalizing the electrical system will lead to overvoltage, which, at best, will trigger the protection in household appliances. For the same reason, it is not recommended to use a step-up autotransformer.
Sometimes they try to solve the problem by installing a voltage relay. The effectiveness of this solution is zero; the device simply turns off the power to the network when the voltage goes out of the permissible range. As a result, there is no current in the sockets until the situation returns to normal.
Where to call and complain about the power supply?
Calls cannot solve the current problem; it is necessary to file a claim for inadequate quality of services provided. That is, write a statement to the company providing electricity supplies (if the contract is concluded directly) or file a complaint with the management company. The application must be registered or sent by registered mail (mailing address is indicated in the contract).
If the above measures do not help, you can contact the prosecutor's office, Rospotrebnadzor, the district administration, the public chamber, as well as the district court.
Please note that collective complaints are more effective, so if neighbors or other residents of a house (district, village, etc.) are faced with a low voltage problem, then it is better to involve them in the process.
If, due to voltage deviations from established standards (due to the fault of the service provider), household appliances fail, you can demand compensation for the damage. To do this, you must follow the following algorithm:
- You should contact the service provider so that its representatives record that the accident occurred and draw up a corresponding report.
- A conclusion is taken from the service center, which indicates the reason for the failure of the household appliance.
- A claim is filed with the service provider demanding compensation for damages.
- If refused, the issue must be resolved in court.
Low network voltage is a problem common to households in the private sector. 160-180 volts - this voltage is not enough to operate most household electrical appliances and lamps. Even the simplest incandescent lamp at an excessively low voltage no longer shines, but simply “indicates” its filament with a soft crimson color.
First of all, it should be remembered that the electricity supplier is obliged to ensure the quality of this electricity at the input, that is, at the boundary of responsibility between the subscriber and the supplier. In fact, most often the line of responsibility is located at the point of connection of the overhead line branch to a private house.
Therefore, the question of fundamental importance is: within whose area of responsibility is the problem? If the voltage on the overhead line itself is just as low, then the energy supply organization is responsible for this (gardening board, Energosbyt, etc.) But if the voltage there is fine, then the problem area is the input, and this is already on the conscience of the consumer.
Taking measurements on the overhead line support at the branch connection point is practically not at all easy, and even unsafe. Only qualified employees of the electricity supply organization can carry out such work.
For example, if only you have problems with voltage, and the neighbors connected to your same phase do not experience any inconvenience, then this quite clearly indicates that the technical problem is located precisely on your branch.
Another characteristic sign of problems at your input may be the absence of drawdown before turning on any electrical appliances in your home. That is, if the input device is turned off, the voltage at the input is full, and if the stove, kettle and vacuum cleaner are working at the same time, then they practically cannot work, since the drawdown is obvious and noticeable even without the use of special devices.
Voltage sag within the homeowner's liability limit
If the voltage drop occurs precisely on your branch, then the following options are likely:
1. The cross-section of the input conductor is insufficient for the available length. On conductors that are too thin, a voltage drop occurs, which can be quite significant in the case of extreme load.
2. There is a branch circuit that plays the role of additional resistance. At this resistance, in accordance with Ohm's law, a voltage drop occurs. These volts, “disappearing” on a bad contact, may not be enough.
The lost volts cause heat to be generated. In the first option, this is not so critical, since the input conductor is heated evenly along its entire length. But if there is a second option, a bad contact will heat up. And very intensely, to the point that the heating site will be visible to the naked eye. Heating will contribute to further deterioration of the contact, and the result will be either complete inoperability of the input, or, in the worst case, a fire.
If you find out that the voltage drop in your home is caused by problems in your power line branch, then you should take the following actions:
1. Critically evaluate the state of contacts. This, first of all, concerns the junction of the main power line and your branch. How is this connection made? If using ordinary twisting, then it is very likely that this is where the problem lies: the contact resistance of such a contact, located in the open air, increases steadily, and only almost ideal cooling conditions save from fire. All this is especially true if the aluminum main and copper branch conductors are connected by twisting. Unfortunately, this also happens.
If the branch is made using certified clamps, then it is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the housings of these clamps. Melting or other damage to the clamp body may indicate electrical contact problems. You can verify the presence of these problems by turning on the maximum load in the network (as many electrical receivers as possible) and making simple observations. If sparking occurs inside the clamp, smoke is emitted and the temperature clearly rises, then the clamp is definitely the cause of the voltage drop and must be replaced.
2. Another place for problematic contact can be the upper terminals of the input switching device (most often an automatic machine). In this case, sparking may come directly from the input panel, and the body of the circuit breaker will show signs of melting. Then the input device must be replaced.
Voltage sag within the limits of responsibility of the energy supply company
At first glance, it seems that this case is the simplest: we cooperated with neighbors, wrote a complaint - and that’s it. The supplier is required by law to ensure the quality of supplied electricity.
However, in reality everything is much more complicated. Low voltage in the power line network may be due to the following circumstances:
1. overload of the substation transformer,
2. insufficient cross-section of power line conductors,
3. “skew”, that is, uneven loading of the transformer phases.
The first two reasons are not difficult to diagnose, but not easy to eliminate: either the replacement of the transformer or the reconstruction of the power line is required. In addition, the load on the network is not stable, which means that the third reason is also not entirely clear. It should be noted here that today relay protection works properly at most substations. This means that a voltage drop due to a banal overload is typical only for some gardening and remote settlements.
The justification that the transformer power is insufficient, or that the load is unevenly distributed among the phases, will be almost impossible to find. Now there is an overload or misalignment, but in half an hour it may no longer exist. Accordingly, the voltage sag is also unstable, and consumers are left alone with their problem.
Of course, it is necessary to write a “paper” addressed to energy sales representatives in such a situation. But you will still have to take some steps on your own. As an option, in such a case, you can obtain permission from the sales company and bring it into the house. Next, you can install an automatic phase switch at the input and always use only the currently least loaded phase, the voltage in which will be close to 220 volts.
In the absence of such permission from Energosbyt, it is possible to carry out periodic “phase changes” with the participation of electricians of the operating organization, who will ensure the necessary shutdown at the substation. But it should be noted that such actions are unlikely to radically resolve the issue.
Insufficient cross-section of power transmission line conductors relatively often becomes the cause of voltage sags, not only in gardens, but also in the private sector within the city. The fact is that a couple of decades ago these lines were carried out with the cheapest wires. The most common were steel-aluminum AC wires with a cross-section of 16 square meters. mm. Steel provides this wire with increased load-bearing capacity, but significantly reduces conductivity. And this despite the fact that the cross-section is 16 square meters. mm. so it is not particularly large, and aluminum itself is not highly conductive.
At that historical stage, when not every private home even had an electric stove, and no other powerful electrical receivers were kept at home, power lines made from AS-16 wires were quite sufficient. And today, on the site of former small houses, entire palaces are being built. Moreover, preference is increasingly being given to electric boiler heating. Of course, electricity consumption increases significantly. And even if the transformer at the substation copes, or it has been replaced, then a significant voltage drop occurs on thin wires at high currents.
A characteristic sign of insufficient cross-section of power transmission line wires or substation transformer power is normal voltage at night and a constant sag in the evening. But it is worth noting that these two problems often “go hand in hand.”
Where there are weak power line wires, there is a low-power transformer. But the need for large capital investments prevents the problems from being eliminated. One transformer costs about a million rubles, depending on its power. In addition, the reconstruction of power lines using self-supporting insulation insulation will also cost a pretty penny.
It is for these reasons that energy sales companies, gardening and village administrations can remain silent for years, even if there are obvious problems.
The following methods are known to privately solve the problem of low voltage in the network:
1. Installation on your input. To be honest, this measure in the event of a drawdown to 160-180 volts is doubtful. Firstly, a stabilizer of such deep stabilization and power suitable for home ownership will be very expensive. And secondly, there are a dozen such stabilizers in the power transmission line network - and the network literally falls to its knees, from where no stabilizer can lift it.
2. Installation of step-up voltage transformers at the input. This is also not at all suitable. Suppose we installed a transformer, selecting the transformation ratio from 160 to 220 volts. And in the morning the voltage in the network returned to normal, and instead of 220 in the sockets it became 300 volts. All appliances and light bulbs burn out. After all, the problem with voltage sag is that this sag is almost never stable.
3. Installation of an additional grounding device at the input. Of course, to the zero working conductor. The point here is that the power line is a forward conductor (phase) and a reverse conductor (zero). The cross-section may be insufficient for both, but by grounding the neutral conductor, you can reduce the resistance of the working zero and, in general, the line resistance will also decrease. However, such a measure is also fraught. First of all, because during repairs at any point on the line, electricians can confuse zero and phase.
In such a case, the grounded phase will cause a short circuit. Another option is a break in the working zero on the power line. Then all operating currents will go through your grounding device, which can lead to difficult-to-predict results. At best, the grounding device will simply fail.
As a result, we have to admit that there is no independent radical solution to the problem of voltage sags due to a weak substation transformer or too thin power line wires. Alone in the field is not a warrior. It is necessary to unite with your neighbors, draw up an appeal to the energy sales organization and be prepared for the fact that you will have to bear part of the costs yourself. Otherwise, the matter may drag on indefinitely.
Alexander Molokov
Residents of the private sector often encounter low voltage; this problem also occurs in city apartments. First of all, you should find out whose fault it is - the electricity supplier or the consumer and, depending on the reason, take action.
Insufficient voltage in the house - possible causes
Low voltage in the network is an unpleasant phenomenon, but many people deal with it. Poor lighting, when the light bulb only indicates its presence, is not the biggest problem. It’s worse when it’s impossible to do laundry, boil water, cook food on an electric stove, or the refrigerator works intermittently. This happens when the voltage drops to a critical value, but 180 Volts, when everything seems to be working, is also not very encouraging. Devices consume the same current as at normal voltage, and motors consume even more current, but perform their functions over a longer period of time.
The electricity supplier is obliged to provide services that meet the standards: 220 V at the entrance to the apartment with permissible deviations of 198–242 V. Why are regulatory requirements sometimes violated? One of the reasons is the aging of power lines, their poor quality maintenance, and repairs are rarely carried out. The equipment is often worn out, outdated and does not meet modern requirements. There are also errors in planning power lines and supply lines to houses, when one phase is overloaded and the other is underloaded.
The reasons also lie in the consumers themselves. If in Soviet times there was a 6.5 A fuse under the meter, this meant that residents simultaneously consumed a maximum of 1.5 kW. Now one kettle has a power of 2 kW, but how many other household appliances and various power tools are there in a modern home? There is also seasonality in electricity consumption, which increases significantly in the cold season when electric heating is turned on. At dachas, consumption increases on weekends, the power of the networks is insufficient, and the voltage is less than necessary.
Who is to blame - the supplier or the consumer?
First of all, we find out who is responsible for the insufficient voltage. In an apartment building, this is very easy to do; just ask your neighbors if they have a similar problem. If not, we look for the reason within ourselves. In the private sector, we interview people whose houses are connected to the same phase. We look at the power line, remember which wires lead to our own home, and look for houses powered by the same wires. You can also turn off all devices and measure the voltage. If it is normal, but drops after turning on several appliances, the reason lies in the house.
If the voltage drops in the house, then the reasons are as follows:
- 1. Insufficient input. A thin wire causes low voltage in the network, especially at maximum load
- 2. The contact at the input has burnt out, additional resistance is formed, causing the voltage to drop. Losses can be significant.
- 3. Poor quality of branch wire from the line to the house. Poor contact on the twist increases the resistance, and everything happens similar to the previous case.
The voltage drop is accompanied by the release of heat. If the wiring cross-section is insufficient, this is not a problem, since the heat is evenly distributed along the entire length of the wiring. If the contacts are bad, the consequences can be very unpleasant. This place will heat up intensely to the point that the wiring will burn out, but a fire is also possible. If the voltage problems are related to the power company, then it seems as if solving this issue is easy, you just need to write a statement.
In reality, everything is more complicated; suppliers often ignore low voltage in the network, because it is associated with expensive work on power lines. It is possible that due to increased electricity consumption, the substation transformer is overloaded and needs to be replaced. It happens that power transmission line wires were laid a very long time ago, and now their cross-section is unable to satisfy the increased needs, it is necessary to carry out reconstruction. Another common reason is uneven load distribution across the transformer phases.
Conductors with a small cross-section are more common in gardening partnerships, but the same problem exists in the private sector of the city. The fact is that several decades ago, cheap steel-aluminum wire was used on power lines. He then satisfied the existing needs, but now they have increased significantly. The wire cross-section of 16 mm 2 is no longer enough. A characteristic sign of low transformer power or insufficient conductor cross-section is low voltage during the day and its increase to normal at night.
It is almost impossible to prove that the transformer has insufficient power or the load is incorrectly distributed among the phases. Network congestion may occur for a while and then disappear. The phenomenon of voltage sag is variable, and consumers often have to solve the problem themselves. You need to write a complaint to the energy company, but you also have to do something yourself.
Voltage sag - a private solution to the problem
If you are convinced that the home network voltage is dropping due to problems with the branch line from the power line to the house, then we take some action. We inspect the connection of the branch with the main power line. Very often it is made by conventional twisting, which leads to a steady increase in resistance. Only good cooling in the open air protects the wires from burning out. The connection is made using certified clamps.
Sometimes aluminum wires of the line and copper inputs into the house are twisted together. The junction of two dissimilar metals becomes very hot, we replace the twist with clamps or a terminal block.
If the connection is made with clamps, pay attention to their body. A melted surface indicates poor contact. If we turn on the maximum load, then the appearance of smoke and sparking inside indicates that the voltage drop is occurring in the clamp; we replace it with a new one. A similar problem occurs on the upper terminals of the input machine. We replace a device with burnt contacts, a melted body, and tighten the contacts securely.
If the energy company ignores the residents’ requests, does not change the transformer to a more powerful one, or the main wires to a larger cross-section, you will have to find a way out on your own. Electricity suppliers, eliminating problems with increasing voltage, are faced with the need for millions of capital investments, and are reluctant to take such a step. One of the ways to privately solve the problem is to supply three phases to the house, which requires permission from the energy sales office. If it is received, we place a phase switch at the input and, if necessary, use the least loaded one.
There are other ways to solve the problem privately:
- 1. We install a voltage stabilizer at our input, but if there is a significant drop to 160 V, the device may be ineffective. A good stabilizer of suitable power is expensive. If a dozen similar devices are connected along the street, the network will drop to its limit and the stabilizer will be useless.
- 2. Install the step-up transformer, selecting the appropriate parameters. But the fact is that the drawdown is unstable and, when the voltage returns to normal, the transformer raises it to such a value that all connected devices will burn out. To avoid this, we install a relay that will break the circuit when the limit threshold is reached.
- 3. We install additional grounding of the neutral wire at the input. Thus, the resistance of the zero and the entire wiring as a whole is reduced. But the method is dangerous; there is a possibility that during repairs the phase and neutral wires may be mixed up, resulting in a short circuit. Even worse, when there is a zero break on the power line, the current will flow through the grounding, very serious consequences are possible.
- 4. For a private home, with sufficient funds, we purchase a voltage converter with an energy storage device. This is the most radical way to increase the voltage and get rid of problems, but such equipment is very expensive: from 3 to 20 thousand dollars.
Such a device provides ideal current parameters in the network, supplying consumers with electricity when it is turned off. It operates on the same principle as an uninterruptible power supply for a computer, but has a much higher power from 3 to 10 kW. The device has an electronic connection with a diesel generator, which automatically starts when there is a power failure. But the startup occurs after some time, first the device’s batteries are used.
