Domestic voltage variation and the mass tea-break phenomenon

Feb. 14, 2012 - PRLog -- Voltage variation does not just belong to the commercial and industrial domain; heavy electrical usage in the home at specific times can lead to voltage drops (or ‘sags’ as they are known). This is particularly evident in what has become known as the mass tea-break phenomenon. Here’s the lowdown on what industry insiders call the ‘TV pick-up’, from the experts in voltage optimisation, Eco Adapt (http://www.ecoadapt.co.uk/).

sags instead of surges, when things go on the voltage drops

There’s no doubt that we’re a nation of tea-drinkers and television-lovers. One eye on the UK National Grid (which operates the high-voltage transmission network in England and Wales) on any weekday evening will tell you that. When popular soap operas such as Eastenders and Coronation Street finish for the evening, and sometimes when the latter goes to an advertisement break, voltage levels drop by as much as 6 or 7 volts in some instances. That’s because millions of people across the UK have got up off the sofa and turned the kettle on (all at the same time) to make a good old British brew. This mass synchronised tea-break is such an accepted phenomenon that it even has a name – the ‘TV pick-up’.

It’s not just soap operas which cause the mass synchronised tea-break phenomenon. The 1990 World Cup saw England play Germany in the semi-final, a TV event watched by so many millions that the National Grid sucked up a record-breaking 2,800 megawatts - a rise of 11% - after a penalty shoot-out. That amounts to around a million kettles switched on at once, as each appliance draws up to three kilowatts of electricity. It is said that the National Grid even has its own team of statisticians who look out for the most popular programmes being broadcast so they can predict instances of voltage sags followed by over voltage.

Because electricity cannot be stored and has to be made instantly, the National Grid deal with this over voltage by arranging for voltage reduction (instructing power stations to lower generation) prior to a predicted voltage sag. As the sag takes place the power stations can then raise their power output. So the next time you’re popping on the kettle after watching TV, ask yourself if you’re affecting the UK National Grid!

Find out how voltage optimisation helps to deal with voltage variation and reduce electric costs at the Eco Adapt website: http://www.ecoadapt.co.uk/.