Major Source of Electrical Fire - Poor Power Quality
POOR POWER QUALITY INCREASING THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL FIRE Before we analyse the factors, it is important to understand that the electrical fires are, in most cases, a direct result of overheating in the electrical networks. This article therefore limits the discussion to the factors that predominantly are created by Poor Power Quality and lead to excessive or prolonged heating of the cables, equipment or components, thereby substantially increasing the risks of electrical fires in the electrical network. 1) Harmonics : How computers and other non-linear loads lead to heating of electrical network Harmonics are nothing but the higher frequency currents which can generate heat in the electrical system. The non-linear loads such as computers, lamp ballasts, switch-mode power supplies, office equipment and transformers on low loads produce third order harmonic currents, named Triplen , which are in the phase of all the supply phases. The third harmonic adds in the neutral in a 3-phase s...