While many causes of power failure are rare in Singapore, they can occur occasionally. Power outages themselves are seen on a rare basis. However, when they do occur, they can be disruptive. Understanding the common causes of such power failures can help you prepare in advance and mitigate losses.
Thus, we will discuss some of the most common causes of power failures in Singapore. From issues on the consumer end to ones with the production companies, we will cover all the problems you can face. LS Electrician Services Singapore provides all kinds of electrical services including house rewiring, lighting protection systems, lighting installation, and power socket installation services at the most affordable prices in Singapore.
What Is A Power Failure
A power failure is the loss of electrical supply in a particular area. The complete electricity of a house, a small community, or even whole cities can be affected. Blackouts are the common results of such failures, leading to a shortage of water supply as well. If the outage lasts for several days, the daily routine of the residents can be affected.
Power failures can range from brief interruptions in electricity for a few hours to extended outages. Extended ones usually last for several days and disrupt society’s normal functioning. As we will discuss shortly, these failures can be caused by several reasons.
Common Causes Of Power Failure
Here are some common causes of power failure
1. Faulty Electrical Appliances
Faulty electrical appliances are one of the most common causes of power failures. Malfunctioning appliances can cause short circuits, overloading, and even electrical fires. When the appliance draws more power than it can handle, it can trip the power circuit. These tripped circuits can cause a blackout in the house.
Thus, make sure to inspect your appliances regularly and fix any issues. Consider installing a power stabilizer on the appliances with the heaviest loads. It will prevent power shifts and maintain the electrical supply in the house.
2. Overloaded Circuits
Overloaded circuits are also among the common causes of power outages in houses. Circuits get overloaded whenever the appliances connected to them are too many for them to handle. This is common in households with multiple appliances like fridges, air conditioners, and washing machines. Whenever these appliances are run simultaneously, the load might be too great for the circuit.
In such cases, the circuit can trip, leading to a house outage. You can prevent such outages by running just one appliance at a time. You can connect these appliances to multiple circuit breakers to prevent circuit overload.
3. Power Grid Issues
Singapore has a pretty reliable power grid, but technical faults can sometimes arise in the system. The grid might also need maintenance, for which it needs to be shut down. Power grids can also fail due to overload and transformer breakdowns. All these conditions are among rare power failure causes but can occur occasionally. Faults in the grid’s high-voltage transmission network can also lead to outages.
The Energy Market Authority of Singapore works on such issues. They try to get the power back on quite quickly by sorting out the issue. However, sometimes, technical problems can take a few hours to a few days to resolve. Whenever this happens, a locality’s power or the whole city can be affected.
4. Weather Related Issues
Weather-related issues are also among the common causes of power failure in Singapore. Extreme weather conditions like typhoons and snowstorms are less likely to occur.
However, heavy rainfall, extreme winds, and lightning strikes can and do happen. These conditions can create power surges or falls in the grid system, leading to a power outage in the city.
5. Construction And Excavation Work
Construction and excavation work in the grid or around the city are also among the common reasons for power failure. It can damage overhead lines, affecting an area’s power supply.
Excavation work in or around the grid can also damage underground cables. Such cases usually affect local areas but can also cause outages in many localities at once.
6. Aging Electrical Infrastructure
Electrical infrastructure like transformers and power grids usually last a long time. However, over time, these pieces of equipment can suffer from wear and tear. This degradation occurs because of exposure to environmental elements.
No matter the cause, aging infrastructure is less likely to handle a heavy load and can break down. This equipment failure leads to power outages in the city.
7. Human Errors And Accidental Damages
Human errors such as improper installation and accidental disconnections can also lead to outages. Incorrect wiring, tampering with the electrical system, and even vandalism can also cause power failures.
Unauthorized modifications or DIY additions can also put the power system at risk. To prevent this, professionals with proper licenses should always undertake electrical work.
Conclusion
We have discussed some of the most common causes of power failure in Singapore. Power outages are relatively rare in Singapore and only happen occasionally. However, when they do occur, they can be quite debilitating for people. Depending on the cause, specific measures need to be set to prevent outages as much as possible.
Faulty equipment needs to be replaced, and overloading circuits should be avoided. The city authorities should keep the grids safe from weather and construction damage. Lastly, human errors should be minimized as much as possible.