When will we get good quality uninterrupted power supply in our country?

[Analogous]

This was prompted by a sudden power cut during an enjoyable listening session. I jumped to turn of the precious equipment and sat down to ponder…
In many countries continuous, uninterrupted and good quality (eg: 230v, 50Hz) power supply has been shown to be possible. Indeed the rare power cut becomes a headline news. I dream of the days when we can enjoy the same.
I recall there are several forum members who are electrical engineers. Maybe some can help us understand the challenges that stand in the way in India.

Quality of electricity supply - country ranking 2019 | Statista

This statistic shows the countries with the highest quality of electricity supply in 2019.

www.statista.com

 

[panditji]

When people start paying up their fair share of the taxes and the politicians start to be held accountable...

 

[mbhangui]

When people like Adani are not given free hand to enter the power generation and the resulting dilution of electricial standards.

 

[Analogous]

Would increased tax revenues ensure uninterrupted good quality power? We have never held our elected politicians accountable for quality of services and judging by the discourses preceding the last elections these were not discussed much, if at all.
Is there any way for us to communicate this demand to the concerned ministry and expect a response?
Regular power cuts have helped promote and normalise a huge industry of UPS and inverter devices+lead acid batteries - essentially accepting that the power grid supply is unreliable and it’s futile to expect anything else.

 

[panditji]

When people like Adani are not given free hand to enter the power generation and the resulting dilution of electricial standards.

So the electricity standards were better before Adani entered the power generation and transmission business? So our ports were better before Adani got into the ports business?

 

[mbhangui]

So the electricity standards were better before Adani entered the power generation and transmission business? So our ports were better before Adani got into the ports business?

Yes. It was 230 +- 5%. Now it is 240 +-10%. We are now same as Afghanistan. I have posted the IEC standards before and after in this very forum. You may want to search for it and read it. At least in my complex, no of people losing equipment because of high voltages is not funny

Post in thread 'Any suggestions for Power Equipment for HT Setup'

Jan 26, 2022

@mbhangui is this a fact?
(Ref: your mention above that The standards for voltage regulation in our country has been officially lowered to tolerances of 240 +- 10%)
I just want to know if this can be verified. Not to start a political discussion here.

The earlier tolerance of IE rules of 1956 did not allow voltage to exceed 250v. This was changed in 2010 and probably implemented in 2019 somewhere in the lockdown period. The reason may not be political (there are two govts involved here) but to ramp up the country's energy requirements for the future at lower cost.

I...

• mbhangui

• 

 

[panditji]

Sir, you were probably in the better part of the country as before 2014, we had power cuts for 6-8 hours everyday during summers and 3-4 hours during the year and now we have 24/7 power...Maybe our expectations are different but with Adani getting into the power generation, we are now a power surplus country and better placed to handle another surge in power consumption for the next 5 years...

Just to add, our transmission company is DVHBN - a Haryana government company and they have not replaced our burnt out main cables on the pole since the last 18-20 years and it's a pain to deal with them even though nothing gets done.... It's time to privatise sir...

 

[mbhangui]

The reason for us become surplus energy is not Adani. The first big reason was interconnection of the important grids and the second major reason was fall in the prices of energy commodities. Few of our regional grids were already power surplus (North eastern, eastern and the southern grid). The first interconnection of regional grids was established in October 1991 when the North Eastern and Eastern grids were interconnected. The Western Grid was interconnected with these grids in March 2003. The Northern grid was also interconnected in August 2006, forming a Central Grid that was synchronously connected and operating at one frequency. The sole remaining regional grid, the Southern Grid, was synchronously interconnected to the Central Grid on 31 December 2013 with the commissioning of the 765 kV Raichur-Solapur transmission line, establishing the National Grid.

By the end of the calendar year 2015, despite poor hydroelectricity generation, India had become a power surplus nation with huge power generation capacity idling for want of demand. The calendar year 2016 started with steep falls in the international price of energy commodities such as coal, diesel oil, naptha, bunker fuel, and (LNG), which are used in electricity generation in India. As a result of the global glut in petroleum products, these fuels became cheap enough to compete with pit head coal-based power generators. Coal prices have also fallen. Low demand for coal has led to coal stocks building up at power stations as well as coal mines. New installations of renewable energy in India surpassed installations of fossil fuel for the first time in 2016–17.

 

[gopib]

The reason for us become surplus energy is not Adani. The first big reason was interconnection of the important grids and the second major reason was fall in the prices of energy commodities. Few of our regional grids were already power surplus (North eastern, eastern and the southern grid). The first interconnection of regional grids was established in October 1991 when the North Eastern and Eastern grids were interconnected. The Western Grid was interconnected with these grids in March 2003. The Northern grid was also interconnected in August 2006, forming a Central Grid that was synchronously connected and operating at one frequency. The sole remaining regional grid, the Southern Grid, was synchronously interconnected to the Central Grid on 31 December 2013 with the commissioning of the 765 kV Raichur-Solapur transmission line, establishing the National Grid.

By the end of the calendar year 2015, despite poor hydroelectricity generation, India had become a power surplus nation with huge power generation capacity idling for want of demand. The calendar year 2016 started with steep falls in the international price of energy commodities such as coal, diesel oil, naptha, bunker fuel, and (LNG), which are used in electricity generation in India. As a result of the global glut in petroleum products, these fuels became cheap enough to compete with pit head coal-based power generators. Coal prices have also fallen. Low demand for coal has led to coal stocks building up at power stations as well as coal mines. New installations of renewable energy in India surpassed installations of fossil fuel for the first time in 2016–17.

I can vouch for the chaos that the change to 240 +-10 made in my home. Coming from an earlier generation we had enough appliances with the old 230 +- standard, with stabilizers et all. Suddenly erratic behavior started and I suspected the stabilizers. It took @mbhangui post for me to realise the issue. Just don't know how many people have been affected. How are these changes communicated in our country?...and this is NOT a trivial change!!

 

[mbhangui]

I can vouch for the chaos that the change to 240 +-10 made in my home. Coming from an earlier generation we had enough appliances with the old 230 +- standard, with stabilizers et all. Suddenly erratic behavior started and I suspected the stabilizers. It took @mbhangui post for me to realise the issue. Just don't know how many people have been affected. How are these changes communicated in our country?...and this is NOT a trivial change!!

The change is huge with the effect passed to the consumers. Now any new equipment thats gets imported into the country have to undergo IS certification to withstand this high voltage. What about equipments manufactured before 2020? Even old stabilizers are now blowing up. In the equipments, it is the power supply units blowing up (SMPS and transformers). My entire society went to the local Electricity board armed with voltage readings throughout the day/night which showed voltages upto 250 volts. The board simply brushed way the complaints saying the voltage is within the range. The new standards were implemented quietly, silently during the covid pandemic. Before the covid voltages never want above 230. I know this because I have voltmeters in my music room since 2014. Few electrical engineers have complained about the 240 +- 10% but they have been disregarded. I too lost few devices, but now I have stabilizers manufactured after the year 2020 and high voltage cut outs throughout my house. Since then I haven't lost a single device due to insane high voltages.

This is the insane voltage in Pune right now in my house being fed to the stabilizer.

 

[sandeepmohan]

For our country, we need a SMR or Small Modular Reactor in your home, for stable, uninterrupted and clean power.
I don't think our Government could be bothered with supplying stable power. Ever.

 

[drkrack]

I don't think our Government could be bothered with supplying stable power.

Absolutely, Let them Handle AQI issues, Food Adulteration, Lake Encroachment and Traffic Chaos effectively first, I'll not bother voting on the basis of this power issue at all. There are more pertinent issues for Govts to bother currently.

Recently had a havoc with power supply with TGSPDL, the 10yr old meter got burnt and An AC, Massage Chair, Three Extension boxes with Surge Protection, Water Filter and Electric Chimney Conked off. Luckily the HT equipment, Projector, Stereo System and TV didn't have any effect because they were covered by 8yr old 5kva Servo Stabilizer. I easily Understood the importance of having a good Stabilizer, the fear was easily palpable.

AC Voltages being 240+ had become quite common post Covid19 Pandemic but never had issues pertaining to that. SMR seems unique idea thanks, but wouldn't Solar charged battery power wouldn't be more practical, I'm Noob on this kindly someone enlighten us as its easily doable.

 

[Analogous]

high voltage cut outs throughout my house

Sir, could you please explain what these are and how to install these?

 

[balavignesh002]

This was prompted by a sudden power cut during an enjoyable listening session.

We should be united and elect a better leadership in state.

Mean while you can get a good servo integrated with UPS to your home electricity supply.

While my music sessions at home, I never get interrupted by power cuts or surge. I use Luminous ups system with Vertex 3 phase servo at home, kept it away so that clicking noise will not be heard.

 

[mbhangui]

Sir, could you please explain what these are and how to install these?

Search for voltage cutout in amazon. You will get many such devices at different price points. Most of these are Made in Taiwan. Before these came into the market you had what is known as 'home protectors'. These desi home protectors have a small preset which you can adjust using a screw driver. I think if you buy the protector, the manufacturer installs the same in your house. This will be an extra box besides your existing electrical distribution box.

You have to get an electrician to fit it into your exising distribution board. It is of the standard size (unlike the domestic home protectors).

It is simple to connect. You have two terminals where the input power is connected. The output is connected to two output terminals. Using few buttons you can configure the low voltage value and high voltage value. You can also set the recovery time after a fault happens. These cutouts are of standard size of equpment that are installed in the distribution box. So if you have spare space in your existing electrical distribution box it can be fitted inside.






I will list down what I lost in the same year that covid happened. Mostly it will be your power supply unit in your precious equipment that will blow. If you have vintage equipment, most of them were designed for 220 v and some for 240 v. Be double careful with vintage equipments because you will not get spares easily.

These are what conked off around the covid pandemic and after the pandemic before I protected myself using cutouts and stabilizers throughout the house

1. Computer SMPS (looked at it and found SMPS had blown. Replaced the SMPS myself from cooler master). This was my HTPC which ran perfectly since 2007.

2. Yamaha AVR (Found the SMPS TOP 254 IC had blown). Fixed it myself in less than Rs 100. Yamaha official service center said the approximate cost to repair it would be above Rs 25 k. Now this is something I want all of you to be aware of. This will be applicable to lot of AVRs, subwoofers, etc all of which have SMPS inside. AVRs like Marantz, Denon use the same IC. The heart of all such SMPS is an IC like TOP254. The max voltage for these SMPS is 265 volts. With the new standards being implemented, the max voltage that you can get is 240 + 10% = 264 volts. This is dangerously close to 265 volts max voltage tolerated by these SMPS ICs. For all you know that voltage very well could go little above 264 volts when you are sleeping peacefully. This I believe is the reason for many of our FM loosing subwoofers and AVRs and TV sets.

3. Allo Shanti LPS (luckily it was the fuse that blew)

4. Zero B RO filter (I looked at it and found the SMPS had blown)

5. iphone power adaptor (these adaptors are actually SMPS)

 

[ssf]

After going through the posts, I checked the readings of my Fridge stabilizer.

IP - 225
OP - 225

Is that ok ?

Also, power cuts and fluctuations are quite rare where I am. Lucky that way. Also, staying in a flat with it's own generator has it's advantages. I have not used any stabilizer on my AV Receiver. My TV, gaming Computer and modems are connected to a UPS.

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

Sir, you were probably in the better part of the country as before 2014, we had power cuts for 6-8 hours everyday during summers and 3-4 hours during the year and now we have 24/7 power...Maybe our expectations are different but with Adani getting into the power generation, we are now a power surplus country and better placed to handle another surge in power consumption for the next 5 years...

Just to add, our transmission company is DVHBN - a Haryana government company and they have not replaced our burnt out main cables on the pole since the last 18-20 years and it's a pain to deal with them even though nothing gets done.... It's time to privatise sir...

You asked @mbhangui for the pre and post comparison, and he provided it. His argument was never against the capacity, but quality of power (fluctuations in voltage). And he has substantiated it with information and anecdotal evidence. The problem is faced even here in Thane/Mumbai and a discussion on the same (high voltages) is ongoing at the moment in our housing complex’s group. People have even raised complaints with the authorities.

Yamaha AVR (Found the SMPS TOP 254 IC had blown). Fixed it myself in less than Rs 100. Yamaha official service center said the approximate cost to repair it would be above Rs 25 k

That’s an eye-opener on the practices/competence of service centres. Are they even capable of locating a problem, or they simply suggest replacement of units?

BTW, admire your technical knowledge across electric, electronics and IT.

 

[mbhangui]

You asked @mbhangui for the pre and post comparison, and he provided it. His argument was never against the capacity, but quality of power (fluctuations in voltage). And he has substantiated it with information and anecdotal evidence. The problem is faced even here in Thane/Mumbai and a discussion on the same (high voltages) is ongoing at the moment in our housing complex’s group. People have even raised complaints with the authorities.

exactly. It wasn't political. The rule was ratified in 2010 and implemented during/after covid. There are two govt involved. However the effect of having such wide tolerances benefits the private players as they have to spend much less money on lesser quaility power generation/control equipments. Also there is one more side effect of increasing the voltage and very few people have understood the implications. By increasing the voltage by 5% (this is what has happened), Your energy bill goes up by square of current multiplied by resistance. It will be more than 5%. Imagine Adani, Tatas now earning more than 5% for free at your cost!!!. This is simple ohms law in action. If your current doubles your power quadruples.

 

[mbhangui]

We should be united and elect a better leadership in state.

Mean while you can get a good servo integrated with UPS to your home electricity supply.

While my music sessions at home, I never get interrupted by power cuts or surge. I use Luminous ups system with Vertex 3 phase servo at home, kept it away so that clicking noise will not be heard.

The servo is one kind of stabilizer that will not blow off so easily. They have copper windings.

 

[muralimmreddy]

this is equipment they installed in my apartment per flat. Its happy to send upto 260V, over which it trips cutting of power supply for whole house. Last 2 weeks its been tripping (>260v) continuously in the night even after several complaints by society to electricity board.