Grid faults are issues that disrupt the normal flow of electricity in the power grid. The main types of grid faults include:
-
Short Circuits: Occur when electricity takes an unintended path, often due to damaged wires or equipment, causing a surge of current that can lead to outages.
-
Open Circuits: Happen when there is a break in the electrical circuit, preventing electricity from flowing to the intended destination. This can be caused by broken wires or failed connections.
-
Ground Faults: Occur when electricity unintentionally flows directly to the ground, which can happen if a wire touches a grounded object like a tree or a building structure.
-
Overload Faults: Happen when the demand for electricity exceeds the capacity of the grid, causing equipment to overheat and potentially fail, leading to power outages.
Each type of grid fault can lead to disruptions in power supply, and utilities work quickly to identify and fix these issues to restore electricity.