Recently moved to St. 450 (the stinking canal end) from St. 410. On moving in it was obvious there were problems with the mains voltage: periodically lights dim or won't turn on, fans slow down, water cooler and fridge are abnormally warm, computer UPS switches to battery mode etc.
Problem is much worse at night. On measuring the mains voltage it turns out I'm getting a maximum of around 205V during the day (mostly consistent); at night it's not going much above 185V and I've seen it as low as 155V. It's been like this every night for the whole two weeks I've been here.
Everywhere I've lived before it's been around the 220V mark all the time. My original thought was the power company was dipping voltage as we're nearing the end of dry season, but given the problem is at its worst between roughly 9PM and 2AM, and that it's going as low as it is, I'm beginning to wonder about the wiring in the building.
Anyone in the immediate area having similar problems, or does it look like I need to get the landlord to call an 'electrician' in?
I had the same problem. The only fix practical fix if you don't want to move house or run a generator is to get the electric company to put you on another grid (I did that) or wait until they upgrade your grid.
Slight improvement over the last couple of days - peak voltage is still far too low, but the huge drops are a bit less severe. Looks like it is at EdC's end.
How easy/expensive was it getting them to put up another grid? I'd just assumed that trying to deal with the electric company would be utterly pointless, good to know it could be an option.
If you're thinking of going that route you have to talk to neighbours near and far and ask them if their air conditioners stop working only in the evening peak hours or not. You're in luck if there's a street nearby that dosn't suffer the brownouts. About $150 cause in my case cause there wasn't much wire involved.
My old place is only 100m away and the power there was fine, so the issue's fairly localised. The street I'm on now has far more obviously moneyed Khmers on it than the old one, so hopefully it shouldn't be too hard to get some traction if I need to.
Thanks very much for your advice.