Learning how to differentiate between different types of utility grid failures is perhaps not an obvious step in the process of choosing a generator. Nonetheless, understanding the dissimilarities between brownout vs blackout will help you prepare better for either of these problems with your home’s main power supply.
Whether or not you will have to use a generator during a brownout or a blackout depends mostly on their duration, as sometimes they may not last long enough to switch to your home’s electricity backup.
However, there are a number of precautionary measures you can take to protect your home appliances from brownouts and blackouts.
In this brownout vs blackout comparison, we are going to take a look at the differences between these utility grid malfunctions and provide you with advice that will help keep all appliances in your household safe from power surges.
The main differences between Brownouts vs Blackouts
- A brownout is a drop in the utility grid’s voltage, whereas a blackout is a total loss of power
- Blackouts can sometimes last for days, whereas brownouts usually last for just a few moments
- Brownouts are used by power companies to prevent blackouts, whereas power companies use blackouts to perform the maintenance of the utility grid
- A blackout isn’t likely to damage sensitive electronics, whereas a brownout can damage computers, smartphones, and similar devices
- A brownout is often not planned, whereas blackouts are commonly announced several days in advance
What is a brownout?
A brownout is a temporary drop of the voltage on the utility grid that usually lasts for a few seconds. However, on rare occasions, the utility grid can operate at a reduced voltage for several days as a result of increased power consumption.
The brownout is the exact opposite of a power surge as the voltage is decreasing rapidly and then increasing to its normal level. The power will drop below its usual range which can cause the lights in your home to dim or flicker.
In most cases, the system voltage will decrease by 10% to 25% for a few seconds before stabilizing. These sudden fluctuations of the utility grid’s voltage don’t affect the heating or lighting systems significantly as they operate at a suboptimal voltage for a limited time.
Electronic devices like computers or smartphones are designed to operate in the range between 115V to 125V as manufacturers are aware that most utility grids have voltage fluctuations.
However, a brownout that reduces the system voltage below 115V can easily damage your computer’s hard drive or cause the overheating of electric motors.
What is a Blackout?
The utility grid’s loss of ability to deliver power to a household or an entire region is called a blackout. Unlike brownouts, blackouts are easily detectable as the electricity suddenly becomes unavailable. Flipping a light switch can be enough to determine if a blackout occurred.
The utility grid may not be able to supply electricity to your home for periods as short as 10 to 15 minutes or as long as several days or even weeks.
Blackouts don’t often cause damage to home appliances as the system’s voltage drops to zero rather than oscillating in the range of 10 to 25% of its maximum voltage capacity. Consequently, it is highly unlikely that a blackout can affect your computer or other electronics in your home.
Even so, the power surge that occurs once the electricity is restored can damage home appliances, which is the reason why you should unplug all devices from power outlets in your home during a blackout.
The difference between planned outages and rolling blackouts
Power companies plan outages in advance and use them to repair or replace worn out parts of the utility grid.
They target specific areas with the aim of diminishing their impact on all grid users, as the power is switched off in one neighborhood for several hours. Once the electricity is restored in that neighborhood, the power company switches off the power in the new area of the city.
This makes planning ahead and getting your generator out of the storage much easier, as power companies announce their planned outage schedules several days before they take place.
Rolling blackouts, on the other hand, are much less predictable as they are used to reduce power consumption during extremely hot or cold periods.
Predicting when a rolling blackout is going to happen or how long it is going to last is not easy, since they are used as a measure of relieving the stress on the utility grid. However, they don’t last long as they ensure all areas remain without power for a limited time.
The most common causes of brownouts and blackouts
The reasons for brownouts and blackouts can be both internal and external, which means that they can either be caused by an electrical problem in your household or issues related to the power grid.
Storms, strong winds, or high stress on the utility grid can all be the reasons why a blackout occurs. Moreover, a blown fuse or a malfunctioning home appliance are among the most common causes of blackouts.
Although power companies sometimes reduce the voltage on the utility grid to prevent blackouts, voltage oscillations are usually the result of equipment failure at the power plant.
Incorrect electrical wiring, putting too many appliances on the same circuit, or failing to wire large power consumption devices like air conditioners or refrigerators properly can all be internal causes of brownouts.
Blackouts and brownouts are the most common during the periods when power consumption is above the usual load utility grids take either in summer or in winter.
How to keep home appliances safe during a brownout
Although there is no bulletproof way to keep all devices in your home safe from a brownout there are a few precautionary measures you can take to minimize their impact on your home appliances.
Unplugging sensitive electronics from the socket whenever you are not using them is probably the best way to keep them safe from unexpected voltage fluctuations.
That way, the system’s reduced voltage will not be able to reach electronics that could be potentially damaged by the brownout. A drop of the system voltage is accompanied by a power surge that takes the voltage back to normal.
An increase in voltage can also be damaging for a broad range of devices. A power strip provides protection against power surges that occur during brownouts, so plugging your home appliances into a power strip can prevent a voltage osculation from damaging them.
In case, you are experiencing brownouts frequently, installing a whole house surge protector like Siemens FS140 may be a good choice as it will reduce the chances of a power surge that happens immediately after a brownout from causing damage to your home appliances.
How to keep home appliances safe during a blackout
Even the most sensitive electronic devices cannot be damaged by a sudden loss of power, but even so, taking precautionary measures may reduce the chances of accidental failure of devices in your home.
Although the moment when a power outage occurs cannot put any appliances you may be using at the moment in danger, restoring electricity can potentially be dangerous for the devices that are plugged directly into a power outlet.
Switching off the electronics and disconnecting them from the sockets they are plugged into will ensure that the initial power surge after the electricity is restored won’t damage them.
Preparing for brownouts and blackouts
Having a backup power source will eliminate all negative effects blackouts and burnouts can have on the appliances in your household. However, most generators are powered by gasoline, while only a handful of models offers the dual fuel option that enables you to use both gasoline and propane as fuel.
Gasoline or propane can be difficult to get during a power outage, as gasoline pumps run on electricity while propane suppliers may struggle to keep up with the demand.
Storing enough fuel at your home to fill a generator’s fuel tank will ensure that you can have access to electricity for several hours, depending on the load you put on the generator and its fuel efficiency.
Besides, securing sufficient fuel supplies to last through a blackout, you should also try to contact the power company and find out how long the power outage is going to last.
Furthermore, having several flashlights that are ready to use, will keep you from stumbling in the dark while trying to get the generator running.
Using alternative power sources during brownouts and blackouts
Storing a generator properly is the best way to ensure that the unit you own is going to be operational during an emergency. Moreover, you will have to install a transfer switch on the circuit breaker panel if you want to power the appliances in your home with a generator.
You will need a generator that can produce more than 6000 running Watts to continue using all appliances in your household normally, while smaller-sized generators may be a good option for you if you just want to use essential items during a blackout.
There are several factors that will determine how long a generator can continue supplying electricity without refueling. Using more than 75% of the unit’s power output capacities will limit its runtime, as well as the engine’s fuel efficiency.
Some models capable of generating enough electricity to power an entire household can remain operational for less than six hours despite having large fuel tanks. On the other hand, some portable generators can run for up to 12 hours on a single fuel tank while handling large loads.
Setting up a backup power source during an emergency can be difficult, which is the reason why you should already have your home power backup system in place before a blackout occurs.
Frequently asked questions about brownouts and blackouts
Are brownouts supposed to happen frequently?
No, the voltage on a utility grid should be stable. In case you deal with brownouts regularly it can be a sign that there is something wrong with the electrical installations in your home or the utility grid you are using.
Are brownouts dangerous for all home appliances?
A voltage fluctuation doesn’t have any significant impact on most devices in your home. However, it can cause irreparable damage to TVs, computers, smartphones, and other electronics.
How long can a blackout last?
The duration of a power outage depends on its cause. A planned outage can last for a few hours, while a hurricane or a snowstorm can disable the utility grid for days or even weeks.
How to know if the blackout was caused by internal or external factors?
You should check the circuit breaker box if you are unsure if the power outage is caused by internal or external factors. Also, checking if your neighbors have electricity can help you determine if the power outage was the result of a utility grid failure.
Conclusion
The brownout and blackout have almost nothing in common, since a brownout is usually a temporary voltage fluctuation, while a blackout implies a total loss of power.
Even though brownouts usually last for a few seconds, in some cases the voltage can remain unstable for several hours. What’s more, during heat waves or under extremely rough weather conditions power companies may opt to reduce the system’s voltage for days in order to prevent a blackout.
A power outage usually occurs if the utility grid is overloaded, although storms or heavy rainfall can also disable a power grid.
An inverter or conventional generator is probably the best and the easiest way to deal with the problems caused by brownouts and blackouts as they enable you to switch to an alternative power source until the power grid stabilizes.
Hopefully, our brownout vs blackout comparison has helped you understand the differences between these two utility grid issues and prepare better for the problems they may cause. Leave a comment and let us know or read more about how a generator works.
