Why do the lights of a whole block or area go out? ?

Question

For example on august 5, 08 when so many ppls lights were out in chicago, had lightning hit a converter box or something?

Answer 1

Yes or the box had a lag.

Answer 2

possibly, lightning could've hit a pole, it happens

Answer 3

when a problem occurs, the system is designed to contain it.  just like circuit breakers in your house.  if an appliance shorts out, the circuit breaker (or fuse) trips to stop the short-circuit from spreading out of your house all the way back to the power station.

If for some reason wires outside your house short-circuit, then a fuse on a pole on your street (typically near a transformer) will trip, for the exact same reason - and when this happens, your street or block will be dark.

Answer 4

Exactly...happens also if someone hits a certain pole with their car....I live in Batavia and always wondered...we'd have our lights go out but across the street they would be on.

Answer 5

Maybe but the real thing is is that all of the power cables are connected! If you are driving down the road look up and you will see that they are all connected so if one falls the cable gets broken and the power can't continue to travel. It is like a broken link in a chain.

Answer 6

because the grid was down.  your power is delivered to your local power station.  It is then distributed to smaller transfer stations and then on to your transformer which is usually down to a block or two of peoples homes.  If it hits your transformer your block is out if it hits your transfer station your area is out... could be a couple of blocks to a whole subdivision and then if the power station is out your hole town can be black.