Most of the people experienced the power failure during the rain & lighting. But do you know why it happened or what the reason behind it?.
Due to the high dependency on power, our modern lifestyle will not survive without electricity. From the beginning to the end of the day most of our work depends on electricity. As we become more & more dependent on technology the importance of power is increased. Also, the long duration power loss can cause relative chaos, financial setback & possible loss of life.
Along with various unplanned power failure reasons, one of the most common reasons for electricity failure is rain & lighting. Also, we can say power outage is very common during the rain. It will turn off the power for a short or long period of time. This is happening due of the transformer is shut down manually during this period.
We know that the electricity distribution grid has multiple circuit breakers, which allow this to work. These circuit breakers are comparable to those found in your home. They exist to prevent components from being overloaded. At the time of heavy rain, this circuit breaker will allow the shutdown power transformation. But why these will happened we will discuss here. So if you want to get more knowledge on power cut during the rain spent few minutes to read this article.
Also, for those who don’t know how the electricity comes to your home or business, here we will try to give you a small overview.
Power flow system from main grids to your place
Here we share small information about the distribution & transmission of the electricity system. The above information will help you to get a better understanding of the rest of the information. Electricity is mainly generated in the power generation center which is located in various places especially in urban areas. It produces with the help of several raw materials such as coal, natural gas, water, etc. The overall electric current is pushed into the transformers & from there is distributed in various locations. The transformer increases the voltage so the electricity can cover long distances.
Before distribution at the user location, the electricity passes through substations. Now it will be distributed through a small line which we see in the street electricity line. So this is the main process of electricity distribution from the power generation center to your location. Now we will come on our main topic & discuss the various reason behind the power cut during the rain & lighting.
Reason for the electricity goes off when its rain
- There is a high risk of broken wires and short circuits during a thunderstorm or rain. These broken wires and short circuits can cause transformers and even entire feeders to trip. Broken wires pose a significant risk to human life due to shock. As a result, the power company will sometimes intentionally turn off the supply in order to minimize the damage.
- When the voltage generated between a cloud and the ground exceeds the dielectric strength of the air, a lightning strike occurs. This causes a massive current stroke, which typically exceeds 30,000 amps. To make matters worse, most strokes are composed of multiple discharges occurring within a fraction of a second. Lightning is the most serious reliability concern for utilities in high-keraunic areas. Lightning strikes can have an impact on power systems, either directly or indirectly.
- The majority of rain brings strong winds with them, causing trees to sway and branches to snap. When a tree limb makes contact with high-voltage power lines, the power is immediately shut off and then turned back on when the contact is severed. This is done to keep the electric current from being discharged and squandered. If a branch snaps and falls on a power line, the power will be turned off until the issue is resolved.
- The wind can be so strong that power lines are blown down, or an entire tree falls across the lines, pulling them down. This is why municipal crews spend so much time cutting down trees that encroach on nearby power lines.
- Insulation elements (such as bushings and switches) can be destroyed by heavy and prolonged rains, resulting in a blown fuse and a power outage. Physical damage from branches and hail, as well as gradual deterioration over time, can result in cracks and breaks that allow water to seep in and cause damage.
- Flooding and heavy rains can also cause issues in underground power lines, such as damaged insulating systems and water leaks.
- Lightning is drawn to elevated, metallic objects during rain, power lines are frequently struck by lightning, resulting in a power surge that overloads nearby transformers and causes catastrophic power outages. Even if the trees have been properly cut back by local personnel, trees struck by lightning frequently topple onto surrounding power wires, creating power outages.
Summary
We know the importance of electricity & also understand the moment when you are facing unplanned long-duration power failure. In India or many other countries, the power outage or main grid supply shutdown is very common during the rain & lighting. Also, a common challenge is what to do in a long power outage is a big challenge for all of us.
To keep the power in your home in this period having a power generator is always the best solution. But due to its high price, fuel cost & maintenance middle-class families are not able to manage it. So the best thing to deal with this situation is always to prepare with candles & other temporary lighting resources. Here in this article, we have shared the information for the several reasons for the power cut during the rain including an overview of the power distribution system. I hope the above information will help you to get a better understanding & knowledge about your doubt.