Latin-American Experience about Appliance Damage Caused by System Perturbations

A study covering several Latin-American countries about appliances damaged supposedly due to perturbations coming from the distribution system is presented. The antagonist situation existing among utilities, customers, regulatory institution, and equipment manufacturer is discussed. The study is based mainly in a collection of databases of utilities, and consumer associations, plus journal published information and own experiments on market available appliances. Results of experiment carried out on appliances are presented, showing a high weakness to impulse type overvoltages. A damage index is proposed, giving the values determined from the study. The phenomena that can be more damaging for appliances are transient overvoltages, long time overvoltages, undervoltages and unbalances. Most of the damage causes are due to low voltage system problems, originated in human errors, poor maintenance and storms. Furthermore, appliances withstand capability is extremely low and do not meet international requirements. The percentile of false complaints is at least 10 %