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What exactly is a brown-out – and is Britain going to have them? What exactly is a brown-out – and is Britain going to have them?
(about 17 hours later)
Name: Brown-out.Name: Brown-out.
Age: as old as electricity, but rarely seen since the 1970s.Age: as old as electricity, but rarely seen since the 1970s.
What are you talking about? It happens to me all the time. Really?What are you talking about? It happens to me all the time. Really?
Yeah. It’s like a blackout, but not as severe. Actually, that’s correct.Yeah. It’s like a blackout, but not as severe. Actually, that’s correct.
I mean, it’s not like I was so drunk I don’t remember anything about the party; I just need reminding from someone who was there. That’s not quite what we’re talking about.I mean, it’s not like I was so drunk I don’t remember anything about the party; I just need reminding from someone who was there. That’s not quite what we’re talking about.
Like that time when I set the curtains on fire, and had a bit of an accident inside my Santa costume, and then when I woke up I was still … I’m going to stop you there – this kind of brown-out has to do with electricity.Like that time when I set the curtains on fire, and had a bit of an accident inside my Santa costume, and then when I woke up I was still … I’m going to stop you there – this kind of brown-out has to do with electricity.
Are you sure? I don’t recall that night at all. A brown-out is when the National Grid intentionally reduces voltage to ration electricity supplies.Are you sure? I don’t recall that night at all. A brown-out is when the National Grid intentionally reduces voltage to ration electricity supplies.
Why would it do that? To prevent a blackout. And it could happen this winter, due to predicted power shortages.Why would it do that? To prevent a blackout. And it could happen this winter, due to predicted power shortages.
What are we running short of? Gas? Coal? Oil? Wind? Nuclear power.What are we running short of? Gas? Coal? Oil? Wind? Nuclear power.
We’re running out of atoms? No, but four EDF-owned nuclear reactors that were shut down for safety reasons in August are taking longer to repair than expected, and may now stay offline until 2015. One analyst has suggested that, as a result, the chance of a brown-out has jumped from the usual 0.1% to 10% We’re running out of atoms? No, but four EDF-owned nuclear reactors that were shut down for safety reasons in August are taking longer to repair than expected, and may now stay offline until 2015. One analyst has suggested that, as a result, the chance of a brown-out has jumped from the usual 0.1% to 10%.
And what exactly happens during a brown-out? The lights go dim, hence the name.And what exactly happens during a brown-out? The lights go dim, hence the name.
Is that all? Bring it on. That’s not all. Some appliances with motors may respond to the sag in voltage by drawing more current, and could burn out as a result.Is that all? Bring it on. That’s not all. Some appliances with motors may respond to the sag in voltage by drawing more current, and could burn out as a result.
I don’t understand that, but whatever – I won’t use the blender. In addition, modern digital devices – TV set-top boxes, computers, Wi-Fi routers, etc – may malfunction or sustain damage at lower voltages.I don’t understand that, but whatever – I won’t use the blender. In addition, modern digital devices – TV set-top boxes, computers, Wi-Fi routers, etc – may malfunction or sustain damage at lower voltages.
So what should I do in the event of a brown-out? Unplug anything invented in the last 20 years.So what should I do in the event of a brown-out? Unplug anything invented in the last 20 years.
Do say: “Look darling, the lights have dimmed! I’ll open some champagne, and we can spend a romantic evening in.”Do say: “Look darling, the lights have dimmed! I’ll open some champagne, and we can spend a romantic evening in.”
Don’t say: “The Sky box hasn’t recorded Game of Thrones. This relationship is doomed.”Don’t say: “The Sky box hasn’t recorded Game of Thrones. This relationship is doomed.”