brown-out
Partial power failure
A brown-out is a partial reduction in electrical power, causing lights to dim rather than go out completely—distinguished from a blackout, which is total loss of power.
The term extends to any temporary diminishment: a mental brown-out might be a moment of foggy thinking, less severe than fully blacking out.
Also spelled brownout.
Loss of electricity
- gridFramework of intersecting lines
- voltage dropDecrease across circuit element
- dimmingDecreasing in brightness
- flickerUnsteady, brief light
load shedding · power failure · utility · transformer · substation · circuit · breaker · fuse
Minor difficulty or trouble
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- downtimePeriod of non-operation
- interruptionBreak in continuity
- delayEnforced waiting period
setback · annoyance · hindrance · complication · nuisance · disturbance · interference · data loss
Framework of intersecting lines
- utilityFunctional worth or purpose
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- transmissionSending of information
- capacityMaximum amount containable
overload · reliability · maintenance · aging infrastructure · network · power plant · substation · wiring
power cut
Loss of electricity
- gridFramework of intersecting lines
- voltage dropDecrease across circuit element
- dimmingDecreasing in brightness
flicker · load shedding · power failure · utility · transformer · substation · circuit · breaker · fuse · surge
inconvenience
Minor difficulty or trouble
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- downtimePeriod of non-operation
- interruptionBreak in continuity
delay · setback · annoyance · hindrance · complication · nuisance · disturbance · interference · data loss · spoilage
grid
Framework of intersecting lines
- utilityFunctional worth or purpose
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- transmissionSending of information
capacity · overload · reliability · maintenance · aging infrastructure · network · power plant · substation · wiring · load balancing
brown-outfull power
Maximum operational capacity
peak power · maximum capacity · power surge · voltage spike · overvoltage