Voltage drops and other problems in electrical networks are by no means uncommon. They can lead to the failure of expensive equipment and even threaten the life and health of people. To prevent such consequences, there are various electrical network protection devices on the market, used depending on the nature of the problem.
In this article you will learn: what voltage surges are and what are their causes; What network protection devices exist and in what cases are they used?
Will traffic jams or automatic machines save the day?
For a long time, homes used “plugs”: fuses that protect against power surges. They have been replaced by modern and more convenient automatic machines (circuit breakers). Today, in most apartments, these are the only means of protection against network problems.
Plugs and circuit breakers help protect against short circuits, overheating of wiring and fire due to overload. However, a powerful electrical impulse may have time to pass through the machine and disable the equipment. This happens, for example, as a result of a lightning strike. That is, ordinary plugs cannot provide complete protection against voltage surges.
What to do if energy sales do not respond to a complaint
If the implementing organization does not respond to a written request, the consumer has the right to contact such supervisory organizations as:
- Rospotrebnadzor. You can write a complaint to Rospotrebnadzor without waiting for a response from the power grid;
- complain about the electrical network to the Prosecutor's Office;
- file a lawsuit.
In case of any systematic problems with the power supply, the customer has both the moral and legal right to fight for his peace and comfort, by all legal means. This method, of course, is a written application to the organization supplying electricity.
The main causes of power surges in the network
Voltage surges may differ in the magnitude of the deviation from the norm, in their duration and in the dynamics of increase/decrease, depending on the reasons for their occurrence:
- Heavy load on the network. Simultaneous connection of a large number of electrical appliances with insufficient network power leads to voltage instability. This may be noticeable, for example, as light bulbs flickering or electrical appliances suddenly turning off. This phenomenon occurs frequently, especially in the evenings;
- Powerful consumer next door. It happens if there are industrial facilities, shopping centers, office buildings with a powerful ventilation system nearby, and so on.
- Broken neutral wire. The neutral wire equalizes the voltage among electricity consumers. If it breaks (combustion, oxidation), some consumers will receive increased voltage (and others will receive low voltage), which will most likely lead to failure of unprotected electrical equipment.
- Connection errors. For example, if the neutral and phase wires were mixed up;
- Bad wiring. Failures occur due to worn-out wiring, the use of low-quality materials and incorrect installation work.
- Lightning strike. Lightning striking power lines can cause rapid voltage surges of thousands of volts. It is especially dangerous because protective equipment does not always have time to work.
Where to complain if there is no power supply or it is weak
You can complain about the reduced level of power supply in the apartment or the fact that there is none in several instances
It is important to follow this order to achieve the effect:
- The first step is an energy sales company. Upon request of the resident, a qualified worker will come and fix the problem (for a fee). Sometimes the reason is in the transformer, networks, lines - this costs more than one million rubles and is not easy to eliminate. If the master does not show up, then you should submit a written complaint to the head of the organization. Within 30 days, the applicant will receive a response regarding the satisfaction of the request or refusal. In the second case, you can move on.
- Next, send the complaint to the local administration and Rospotrebnadzor. The first is responsible for residential premises that are not owned; their residents may also experience inconvenience from low voltage. The second will consider the claim from the point of view of violation of the rights of the service consumer.
- Rostekhnadzor deals with the supply of electricity to cities and towns; its tasks include maintaining the operability of power lines. The organization accepts collective complaints regarding poor quality of electricity resulting from damaged networks and outdated equipment.
- The prosecutor's office is a supervisory body, where it makes sense to complain only after contacting all previous authorities. It initiates an audit of the activities of the service organization and evaluates the actions of officials of other government bodies.
- Energy supervision serves to maintain electrical networks in good condition and constant readiness of electrical installations.
- The Public Chamber ensures the relationship between citizens and local governments.
- If none of the listed organizations correct the situation, then you should go to court.
An appeal to any government authority can be sent in several ways.
In person or by mail
You can submit your claim yourself to the official’s reception desk. The applicant registers the document drawn up in two copies at the reception, and keeps one with a note that the document has been accepted.
You can also use the services of the Russian Post by sending a registered letter with notification.
Hotline number
Rospotrebnadzor provides for receiving complaints by calling the hotline 8-800-100-0004. Calls are received by specialists from the central department of Rospotrebnadzor, who will also advise on this issue.
You can call Mosenergosbyt by phone at any time.
Online
For the convenience of citizens, the legislator has provided the opportunity to send a complaint remotely using Internet services.
In addition, there are resources from RosZhKH and State Services. At the first of them, specialized specialists will provide legal support and provide a sample complaint; at the second, you can leave an appeal to any government authority.
The request is registered 3 days in advance and then verified. The results are communicated to the applicant after a month.
Possible consequences of power surges
Manufacturers of electrical equipment take into account the unstable nature of voltage and the possibility of its surges and drops. For example, a device rated at 220 volts can operate at 200V and withstand surges up to 240V. At the same time, regular operation of the equipment with large deviations from the norm reduces its service life. Strong power surges can damage equipment and even cause damage to property and health, for example, causing a fire.
Reference. Breakdowns of electrical appliances as a result of power surges are not covered by warranty contracts, meaning the burden of repair and replacement costs falls on the owner, which can be a serious blow to the family budget. In some cases, it is possible to bring a claim against the electricity supplier, but this is time-consuming, difficult and expensive, and does not guarantee success. It’s easier to plan in advance to protect your home from such troubles.
The cross-section of the input cable matters!
Loss of voltage in winter can also be associated with insufficient cross-section of the input cable, as well as with its twists, poor contact, etc.
Therefore, if you have a thin input cable to your home, then it’s time to think about replacing it. You also need to get rid of twists and bad contacts, which can cause voltage loss.
Methods of protection against power surges
Depending on the characteristics of the voltage surge and the nature of its occurrence, various protection devices are used. Let's consider the main ones:
Network filter
A simple and affordable solution for protecting low-power equipment. Usually it is an extension cord or monoblock with a plug, socket (or sockets) and a switch with power supply indication. It is necessary to distinguish surge protectors from ordinary extension cords, which do not have protection, but are very similar in appearance. Protects against surges up to 400 - 500 volts, and the load current cannot exceed 5 - 15 A.
Reference . From the technical side, a surge protector is a simple system of several capacitors and inductors. At the same time, the power supplies of most modern electrical appliances already contain circuits that perform a similar function. That is, in practice, surge protectors often act as a simple extender with additional protection against network surges.
Protection relay RLV and UZM
The device interrupts the power supply if the voltage is outside the permissible limits. After the voltage returns to the established limits, the supply is restored (automatically or manually, depending on the model). The device is connected after the input machine.
How to make a complaint and where to send it
Most often, if the mains voltage is reduced through no fault of the tenant, then several apartments will suffer from this.
In this case, you can make a collective appeal. Individual and collective complaints have no fundamental differences; they must be written following certain rules:
- You cannot use obscene expressions, the language must be official and technically literate;
- the maximum amount of evidence should be attached: results of examinations, measurements, testimony;
- It is advisable to study the regulatory framework and list the clauses of the contract and laws that have been violated.
The claim must be made in a certain form:
- At the top of the sheet (right) indicate the full name of the boss and the name of the organization (addressee).
- This is followed by the full name and residential address of the applicant or group of residents.
- The title of the document is Complaint.
- In the main part, it is necessary to describe from what moment the cases of low voltage in the network began, due to which they discovered how this affects the quality of life and the operation of electrical appliances. You also need to list what the residents did to resolve the conflict on their own and attach a copy of the correspondence.
- At the end, be sure to indicate the date of compilation and the signature of the applicant or all participants, if the complaint is collective.
- Enclosures will include correspondence with the service organization and authorities, the results of measurements and examinations.
Complaints are supported by documents:
copies of contracts for the provision of services, receipts and checks for their payment; complaints to service companies and responses to them; acts on voltage measurement, they can be drawn up by employees of Rospotrebnadzor, management companies; conclusions or reports of independent experts, if studies were conducted; Witness testimony is acceptable - it is recorded in writing in free form. Information about the person is required: his last name, first name, patronymic, residential address, telephone number. The text of the explanation must be clear, readable, signed
It is important to indicate the date the paper was drawn up.
Such rules must be observed when writing any appeals. Documents are sent by mail, electronic messages or provided in person. You need to take a copy of the application with you; a mark indicating registration of the application is placed on it.
