Eli5 Does it make a sound when city blocks go out of power like the movies?

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Just watched the die hard 4 movie. Ofcourse the whole city got knocked out and the hero had to get through it all. But I need to know. Does it make that thumping sound if electricity goes out for another block or city area. Same goes for lights going on in huge ass secret government storage facilities. Dang!!

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27 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Nah, the most recent most widespread example is the great big US North East blackout of 2003. The computer in my office cubicle went out and we had to just walk down the stairs because the elevators had no power. Actually thinking about it now I’m glad I wasn’t in an elevator at that time

Anonymous 0 Comments

Nah, the most recent most widespread example is the great big US North East blackout of 2003. The computer in my office cubicle went out and we had to just walk down the stairs because the elevators had no power. Actually thinking about it now I’m glad I wasn’t in an elevator at that time

Anonymous 0 Comments

Certain electrical equipment does make a sound when power is switched on or off.

For example, a lot of industrial equipment has an emergency stop circuit, which uses an electrically controlled power switch. The main power switch for the equipment is actually operated electrically. If the control power is cut, then the switch switches off, and like any switch it can make a clunking noise as it switches off. If the control power is cut because the emergency button is pressed, or if the control power is cut because the whole city gets its power knocked out makes no difference, the safety switch switches off automatically.

Certain types of electrical equipment can make a noise when switched on. Equipment using magnetic components often experiences an “inrush” where at the instant they are switched on. Magnetic equipment like flood lights, old strip lights, electrical transformers, and so on often makes a humming or buzzing noise as the magnetic field causes the metal to vibrate and change shape slightly. However, during inrush, the sound can be much louder and take on a different quality.

Of course, some heavy duty electrical equipment may have its own electrically operated switches (like the safety switch described above). If you have a massive warehouse light, it may need more power than a regular light switch can handle. So, instead of installing a massive lever switch, you have the light switch activate an electromagnet which then switches a heavy duty switch. When the light switch is turned on (or power comes back on), there is a big clunk as the heavy duty switch switches.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Certain electrical equipment does make a sound when power is switched on or off.

For example, a lot of industrial equipment has an emergency stop circuit, which uses an electrically controlled power switch. The main power switch for the equipment is actually operated electrically. If the control power is cut, then the switch switches off, and like any switch it can make a clunking noise as it switches off. If the control power is cut because the emergency button is pressed, or if the control power is cut because the whole city gets its power knocked out makes no difference, the safety switch switches off automatically.

Certain types of electrical equipment can make a noise when switched on. Equipment using magnetic components often experiences an “inrush” where at the instant they are switched on. Magnetic equipment like flood lights, old strip lights, electrical transformers, and so on often makes a humming or buzzing noise as the magnetic field causes the metal to vibrate and change shape slightly. However, during inrush, the sound can be much louder and take on a different quality.

Of course, some heavy duty electrical equipment may have its own electrically operated switches (like the safety switch described above). If you have a massive warehouse light, it may need more power than a regular light switch can handle. So, instead of installing a massive lever switch, you have the light switch activate an electromagnet which then switches a heavy duty switch. When the light switch is turned on (or power comes back on), there is a big clunk as the heavy duty switch switches.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Certain electrical equipment does make a sound when power is switched on or off.

For example, a lot of industrial equipment has an emergency stop circuit, which uses an electrically controlled power switch. The main power switch for the equipment is actually operated electrically. If the control power is cut, then the switch switches off, and like any switch it can make a clunking noise as it switches off. If the control power is cut because the emergency button is pressed, or if the control power is cut because the whole city gets its power knocked out makes no difference, the safety switch switches off automatically.

Certain types of electrical equipment can make a noise when switched on. Equipment using magnetic components often experiences an “inrush” where at the instant they are switched on. Magnetic equipment like flood lights, old strip lights, electrical transformers, and so on often makes a humming or buzzing noise as the magnetic field causes the metal to vibrate and change shape slightly. However, during inrush, the sound can be much louder and take on a different quality.

Of course, some heavy duty electrical equipment may have its own electrically operated switches (like the safety switch described above). If you have a massive warehouse light, it may need more power than a regular light switch can handle. So, instead of installing a massive lever switch, you have the light switch activate an electromagnet which then switches a heavy duty switch. When the light switch is turned on (or power comes back on), there is a big clunk as the heavy duty switch switches.

Anonymous 0 Comments

no but there’s a pretty distinct and sudden lack of sound, which can feel as impactful as a sound sometimes. the tech around us takes up more space in our ears than we think 🙂

Anonymous 0 Comments

no but there’s a pretty distinct and sudden lack of sound, which can feel as impactful as a sound sometimes. the tech around us takes up more space in our ears than we think 🙂

Anonymous 0 Comments

no but there’s a pretty distinct and sudden lack of sound, which can feel as impactful as a sound sometimes. the tech around us takes up more space in our ears than we think 🙂

Anonymous 0 Comments

Electricity is mostly silent. I’ve never heard anything make a noise when de energized other than the clack of the contacts opening which you wouldn’t hear if you were more than 100ft from the device that opened. The loudest electrical noises I’ve heard other than arcing through open air or high voltage fuses blowing is a set of voltage regulators searching for the correct setting after being re energized. Imagine very loud humming and a loud clack every 10-15 seconds.

Source: I’ve been maintaining and upgrading the electrical grid for a living for the last ten years.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Electricity is mostly silent. I’ve never heard anything make a noise when de energized other than the clack of the contacts opening which you wouldn’t hear if you were more than 100ft from the device that opened. The loudest electrical noises I’ve heard other than arcing through open air or high voltage fuses blowing is a set of voltage regulators searching for the correct setting after being re energized. Imagine very loud humming and a loud clack every 10-15 seconds.

Source: I’ve been maintaining and upgrading the electrical grid for a living for the last ten years.