Common reasons for low voltage in residential areas

Common reasons for low voltage
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Diminishing voltage causes great disappointment for us. We human beings prefer lights in good amounts and whenever we face low voltage problems at home, we feel very upset. In technical terms to explain this, the low voltage refers to a 90 percent reduction of current compared to its normal level. Three things can happen when the power supply is insufficient- voltage fluctuations, power surges, and spikes. The effects of this diminishing voltage include poor appliance performance, dim lighting and intermittent stopping of lights, etc. Due to this, the appliances do not receive the proper amount of power they need, they become overheated and thus stop functioning properly.

We shall discuss here some common reasons for low voltage at home.

Overloading- one of the common reasons for low voltage

A major reason for this low voltage is overloading. The afternoon is a time of high demand, so during this time, the voltage tends to decrease naturally. Apart from that, summer days also cause a scarcity of power because of overdemand. A common reason for this is the air conditioners which take away much of the power. When the power corporation in the city identifies this huge demand, they quickly announce a 5 percent reduction in power in respective regions. This results in diminishing voltage or voltage fluctuation.

Needless to opine, this diminishing voltage causes the lights to become dim, flicker, or glow unusually brighter and it disrupts your mood when you sit to read something or do any household work. The bulbs can get fused in certain instances. The tv may not run, the radio will not get started and you will find it difficult to power on the computer.

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Distance is a reason for diminishing voltage

This is a usual norm that any home situated at a far distance from the main power generator will receive low voltage compared to the ones which are located nearby to it. This is why rural areas experience low voltage everywhere in the world.

As the electricity travels farther distance it becomes weak, in urban areas the voltage is high usually.

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Imbalance in wires affects the distribution of power

The uneven distribution of the three wires naturally found in every house may also cause diminishing voltage. They are connected from the transformer to the house. One wire is called a neutral regulator. Any imbalance that might happen to these wires compels one wire to overlap with the other and thus the wire which is overworked starts giving low voltage.

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Poor wiring condition

The condition of the wiring in any area is also a reason for low voltage. Old wires and corrosion are two of the common causes of low voltage. Another reason can be dirty connections and weak insulation. Apart from that, if the population increases the demand increases and this leaves an impact on the distribution of voltage.

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Natural calamities affect the wiring

This can happen inside the house or on the main road outside on the power lines, caused by natural calamities and it results in low voltage.  Sometimes lightning also disrupts the power distribution in an area which gives diminishing voltage.

Natural calamities affect wiring
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As a natural outcome of this, tress gets stuck in the power lines due to high winds, accidents of vehicles, etc. Sometimes you can see whenever you are going to iron your clothes, your tv stops working. This is because the iron is taking away much of your electricity meant for your house and causes a diminishing voltage.

Concluding remark

If this low voltage is a consistent problem in your area, then you must contact your power supply department of your city and lodge a complaint. Complete the form you will be given at the center and write down the problems you are facing in your area. You can call them personally to inspect the lines. If the defect is in the lines, then there will be no charge. However, if the defect is found inside your power system, then you will be charged a certain amount for repairing this diminishing voltage problem.

Therefore, having prior knowledge about these common reasons for low voltage at home help you to tackle the situation in time.

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91 Comments

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    Families today tend to need much more electrical power than previous generations. As technology grows, so does the load on domestic electrical systems, which results in the need for an electrical panel upgrade in many older properties.

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    Loose wire connection could be a cause of low voltage also. One of my ceiling lights would not work. When I checked the voltage of the socket, it was around 76 volts. After tightening, one of the terminals, the light came on fine.

  10. 10

    Nice Post, this shows your deep insight and hardwork regarding this topic. Thanks for Pointing out that low-voltage lighting will be ideal choice for walkways and entrances. I will definitely choose outdoor spotlights for the customizable outdoor lighting for the walkway going to the garden in my backyard.

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    Hi, What an impressive post! The way you sum-up this topic briefly, shows your professionalism. It will be unfair, if I didn’t share it with my friends. I Got the latest collection ofBrass Path Lights at the lowest price last week. Path Lighting enhanced the safety and beauty of my fences and walkways.

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    I just saw your article on low voltage in residential areas. I thought it was really informative and the tone makes me feel like you’re a friend rather than reading something off of Google or Yahoo (lol). Anyways, I think it needs some more information about what people can do to help solve this problem. For example, is there anything homeowners can do if they live near overloaded power stations? Or how does summer affect the amount of power available? I hope you don’t mind my input because honestly I found the article pretty interesting when compared to other articles out there about this topic.
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    This is some great info, I worked on a house in a low voltage area before and there were a few issues because of it.

    Cheers, Jay from

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    I wanted to reach out and say thanks for posting an awesome article. As a homeowner myself, I’m well aware of the frustrations that come with low voltage or voltage fluctuation at home. It’s hard enough to keep up with our day-to-day life without having to worry about whether we’ll be able to charge our phone!

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    I read your article and found it to be very informative. I’m glad that you mentioned the common reasons for low voltage in residential areas as well! It can be difficult to pinpoint what is causing this problem at home without professional help.
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