Power Return Delay

[HumanShield]

I'm hoping people who know more about how electricity connections to homes can help with this one. It's something strange that I picked up with my unit in the complex and that it's one of the last units to get power back once load shedding ends. I never noticed this before until recently when braai'n. I saw the lights switch in the complex, the unit opposite me had their power return then some 30 seconds or so later my unit's power came back on.
So I guess I'm trying to ask... what's up with that?

 

[Mike Angelo]

If you have a prepaid meter it could be protecting you from the initial surge, hence the delay.

 

[HumanShield]

If you have a prepaid meter it could be protecting you from the initial surge, hence the delay.

Never thought of that. The entire complex is prepaid though.

 

[Dimpie (JIGSAW)]

Sounds like a good thing ... let it be

 

[HumanShield]

Sounds like a good thing ... let it be

I'll go quietly into the night

 

[Adeptus Mechanicus]

Complex perhaps fed from two different phases/switching points?

 

[furpile]

Most likely different phases, you see it in the streets as well. Power comes in 3 phase from the grid, and houses are split between the 3 phases to try and keep them balanced. When power is switched on, they switch on one phase at a time. So you would often see the neighbour's power come on and then a short bit later your power. It is likely that your complex also has 3 phase power coming in and the units are split between the phases.