Transcript

Why Do My Lights Dim When the AC Kicks On? · Lipps Electric Podcast

0:00
So someone has sent in an email, why don't my lights dim when my air conditioner turns on?
0:05
And I think the reason is because there's a big draw, but that's not normal,
0:09
right? It shouldn't do that.
0:10
Yeah, you're correct. You're correct. There's several answers to this,
0:14
but it really does start with that high startup current draw.
0:18
So when your AC kicks on, especially the compressor, the demand is large from the electricity side.
0:26
So it creates a short burst, which is known as inrush current.
0:30
And this sudden load can cause a temporary voltage drop, which will cause your lights to dim.
0:36
In general, is that dangerous?
0:41
It kind of depends. I mean, not normally. We haven't really experienced people
0:47
having many issues from a safety hazard perspective. It's more of a nuisance.