What is actually happening when the power *almost* goes out?

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when there’s a lot of wind or rain, and the lights dim or flicker for a second, and then immediately kick back on, what is actually happening? I’m asking because it seems like if the power is going to disconnect, it would be from some wire breaking or something. So what is happening when it almost goes out, but it doesn’t?

In: Engineering

7 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Power grids have circuit breakers, just like your house does. Except the power grid breakers automatically turn back on. The first time they trip they turn back almost immediately. The next time it waits a little bit longer. If it trips too many times it stays off.

When you see the power “almost” go out, it’s the auto-breaker turning back on very quickly.

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