# Difference between a blackout and a brownout? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 14, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-blackout-and-a-brownout/195252 "2003-08-14T21:58:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-blackout-and-a-brownout/195252/1 "2003-08-14T21:58:45Z")
Just curious. I heard the term “brownout” a few times when I lived in NJ, but I was too young to understand what that meant, except that it meant I couldn’t watch TV. Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![frixxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@frixxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frixxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-blackout-and-a-brownout/195252/2 "2003-08-14T22:05:14Z")
Well I live in California and this is really common. Blackout - Total loss of electrical power. Brownout - Electrical power is disrupted and there are dimming lights, not enough juice for running specific electrical items. But check this site out for verification and other items: [http://www.energyvortex.com/energydictionary/blackout\_\_brownout\_\_brown\_power\_\_rolling\_blackout.html](http://www.energyvortex.com/energydictionary/blackout __brownout__ brown_power__rolling_blackout.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-blackout-and-a-brownout/195252/3 "2003-08-14T23:04:35Z")
I see. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-blackout-and-a-brownout/195252/4 "2003-08-14T23:08:30Z")
There may be a different derivation of that word: when I was in Manila about 10 years ago, a “brownout” was a regular power outage that only lasted for a few hours (their power stations being unable to cope with the demands of the city on a day-to-day basis, they would decide on certain areas being excluded from distribution for about 4 hours at a time). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-blackout-and-a-brownout/195252/5 "2003-08-15T01:11:21Z")
In the US, those are called “rolling blackouts.” That’s when power is cut off in an area, then turned back on later when another area is cut off. A brownout is when they cut the voltage (instead of 110V, it might be cut back to 90V). It’s much worse for motors than a blackout and can wreck freezers, air conditioners, etc. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-blackout-and-a-brownout/195252/6 "2003-08-15T01:23:37Z")
I’m more familiar with **jjimm** ’s definition. In Saigon, I often saw complete power failure for seconds or minutes. These were called “brownouts”. ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-blackout-and-a-brownout/195252/7 "2003-08-15T16:47:59Z")
Why isn’t Lieu(sp?) here yet? Oh, -that- kind of brownout. Never mind.