Brownout (electricity)

For other uses, see Brownout (disambiguation).

A brownout is a drop in the magnitude of voltage in an electrical power system.

Unintentional brownouts can be caused by excessive electricity demand, severe weather events, or a malfunction or error affecting electrical grid control or monitoring systems.[1][2] Intentional brownouts are used for load reduction in an emergency, or to prevent a total grid power outage due to high demand.[3] The term brownout comes from the dimming of incandescent lighting when voltage reduces.

In some countries, the term brownout refers not to a drop in voltage but to an intentional or unintentional power outage (or blackout).[4][5][6]

  1. ^ Añel, Juan; Fernández-González, Manuel; Labandeira, Xavier; López-Otero, Xiral; de la Torre, Laura (October 27, 2017). "Impact of Cold Waves and Heat Waves on the Energy Production Sector". Atmosphere. 8 (12): 209. Bibcode:2017Atmos...8..209A. doi:10.3390/atmos8110209. hdl:1814/59695. ISSN 2073-4433.
  2. ^ Wyatt, Alan (1986). Electric Power: Challenges and Choices. Toronto: The Book Press Limited. p. 63. ISBN 0-920650-00-7.
  3. ^ Blume, Steven Warren (2007). Electric Power System Basics: For the Nonelectrical Professional. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-470-12987-6.
  4. ^ "Beijing 'Brown-out' to Save Power". BBC News. July 22, 2004.
  5. ^ Burgos, Nestor P. Jr. (November 7, 2010). "Iloilo Power Firms Asked to Explain Brownouts". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2012. Both Peco and PPC were asked to submit their explanations on the power interruptions being investigated by Gerochi's committee.
  6. ^ Baxendale, Rachel (January 26, 2019). "Heatwave: AEMO Hits Go on Emergency Energy Supply Measures as Victoria Swelters". The Australian. Retrieved January 30, 2019.