This is exactly how the title of the question sounded from a reader of pensioner Galina Matveyevna.
I continue to publish questions that readers asked me. For new dear readers who have come to my channel for the first time, I inform you that this is already 22 such publications. You can find some other publications by following the links at the end of the article.
Consider in this 22 part a question from Galina Matveevna. Here is the very first text of the question:
LED lamps began to consume 10 times more electricity than their declared power. The Energosbyt specialist said that the meter was in good working order. when the kettle is turned on, the electricity consumption is within the normal range. Why did a 72 W LED lamp consume 800 W of electricity per hour?
I looked at the given question and gave the following answer:
What makes you think that the problem is precisely in the light bulb or light bulbs, it is not completely clear, 10 times more electricity is consumed by one unit of lighting equipment or a group of devices at once? An LED lamp does not have such resources to increase its own power tenfold, except for a dimmable one. But in your case 800 W is too much even for the whole apartment. Therefore, if all lamps are lit in the same normal mode as before, the reason is most likely not in them.
One of the reasons insulation damage can occur, both in the internal distribution network and in lighting equipment. In case of damage to the dielectric layer in the cable or lamp holder, currents will arise between the phase and neutral conductors, which will entail additional power losses. Such a situation is fraught with heating of the damaged place and can lead to a fire, especially with such a power as you indicate.
Another option there may be unscrupulous neighbors connecting to your lighting line. An extra 700 watts is a very real value for illegal power take-off. You can read more about this in the corresponding article on the website: https://www.asutpp.ru/sosedi-voruyut-elektroenergiyu.html
Galina Matveevna got in touch after this answer and wrote the following:
I, a 65-year-old pensioner, carried out a check. She turned off all appliances, and even removed the plugs from the sockets. She turned on each lamp one for 1 hour. Lamp with LED module in the bedroom 72W: the reading has changed from 21324.61 to 21325.41. In the chandelier of the hall there are 3 LED lamps of 8W, readings from 21325.41 steel 21425.92. Fluorescent lamp 40W in the kitchen readings from 21327.23 to 21328.40. Fluorescent lamp 30W in the bathroom readings from 21326.49 to 21327.10. LED lamp in the hallway 18W readings from 21325.98 to 21326.43. Maybe I misunderstood something, and there are no deviations in the work of the lamps?
To this I gave the following answer:
Thanks for the given measurement data, yes, there are some points in the results you described that require checks by an experienced electrician, if the electric meter shows the amount of consumed electricity in kilowatts. The result, obtained from the chandelier in the hall, is especially embarrassing; to “wind up” almost 100 kWh in an hour is a lot. Perhaps there is a problem in the operation of the electricity meter itself, maybe an illegal connection from the neighbors. If in doubt about the kilowatts being charged, it is better to involve an independent specialist in the inspection, who can check the power circuit of all devices using accurate measuring instruments.
Did you monitor when all consumers in the apartment were turned off, whether the meter continues to count or stops? This is also an important point in your case.
Galina Matveevna wrote the following to my answer:
When all devices are turned off, the counter stops, the readings do not change. I checked it repeatedly. The refrigerator consumes 2 times more electricity than the norm, which is in the instructions. I called the master, he made the gas station. But this did not affect the meter readings, all the same, the refrigerator takes 2 times more electricity. I decided to change the counter.
Here is such an interesting story! If you have any comments about this story, write! Also put like and subscribe to the channel!
P.S. Link to some past parts - Part 21, Part 20, Part 19, Part 18, Part 17.