Lights dim on heater start up?

[Qedelec]

Had a power cut a month or so ago and when it was restored the supply measured 163V between phase and nuetral, very odd but just enough to power lights and TV but not the freeview box.

 

[ricicle]

Not quite.
If the ring has gone O/C then the feed to any given socket will only be fed by one cable instead of two.
The volts drop will increase and as a result so too will the load on the system.

Sorry to disagree RF but how would a voltage drop on one circuit cause an increase in total load on a CU?

 

[RF Lighting]

ohms law.

Less voltage means more current to run a load.

1000W load at 240V = 4.16A

1000W load at 230V = 4.35A

 

[ricicle]

Ah but the heater load resistance would remain the same so less voltage means less current

 

[jj4091]

Ricicle, I'm just telling you what I found & what cured the problem of lights dipping.

 

[ricicle]

Fair Enough