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How stabel is the power grid in Bulgaria?

Last activity 22 January 2024 by Dylan Davies

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info3339

Hi,

How stabel is the power grid in Bulgaria? How many electric power outs are there in Bulgaria on average (once a year/week/month?) and are there differences per region?

Guest6983

[Post deleted]

info3339

Thank you very much for your detailed answer, I learned a lot.

info3339

Unfortenately, I have apnea and for now I need an electrical air device during my sleep. In future I hope to cure apnea. Should I come to Bulgaria, I really would like to be operated and disolve my apnea-problem in a surgical way.

So if I decide to come to Bulgaria, I need to be fully selfsufficient in my electric use. I would like to rent an appartment and not buy, so that's an issue.

Guest6983

[Post deleted]

info3339

Thank you very much, this could be a part of the problem and the solution. This could declare, why I have mainly apnea in winter.

If I understand it correctly, the article says that people with apnea need more vitamin D than everage. And the article also learns me, that being ouside as much as possible, with as much as sunlight is very important. This is an extra good reason to do sport activities ouside, lose weight and complement my vitamin D level.

info3339

What is a UPS?

Guest6983

[Post deleted]

info3339

Nice to know ;-)

janemulberry

Evtra has given very good advice there. No matter where you live, ensuring an uninterrupted power supply for vital equipment is wise. The UPS is basically a battery bank, so if the power goes off, the CPAP will keep working. They're also advertised as solar generators, as people use them to store the electricity made by solar panels.

The important thing is to check what wattage your CPAP machine needs (it should be in the user guide and also the electrical info label on the device), multiply that by how many hours you want to run your CPAP, and then buy at least a size bigger for your UPS. A good one won't be cheap. Amazon reviews for cheaper 100 watt and 200 watt power banks are full of people who were surprised the device wouldn't run their CPAP, or only ran it for an hour or two.

info3339

Good advice about an UPS. Thank you very much

Cynic

I also suffer from sleep apnea; I've been on a CPAP machine for the past 20 years.  They tried the surgery to open my airways without success, it's just something I've learnt to live with.  Luckily, the NHS supplied CPAPs are multi-voltage and run on anything from 12v (car battery) to 240v (UK domestic supply).  We've never had a power-cut where we live, but I've had occasions (2/3 times) while away on business where my own stupidity has led me to forget my mask and I've had to manage without my machine for a night, I'm not going to go into any details, suffice to say not a nice experience; the UPS is an excellent idea that I've not thought of before, will investigate it.

Johnavann

At best it is unreliable unless you are in an area with no construction.   We have frequent outages due to cut lines from construction.  There is good news and that these occurrences happen mostly during the day rather than night and power is normally restored within 3 hours.  I can only recall one outage at night and it took 6 hours to fix.

info3339

Nice to hear that it is possible to live in Bulgaria with apnea.

info3339

Makes sence, that the powercuts because of maintenance, are happening during daytime

KingaCo. Clare

A bit out of topic but my husband has no asthma after 5 months in Sveti Vlas. His sleep apnea has eased out too.
The BG air suits him well.

ONE Week with no electricity?
we have though about no electricity heating  solution, but to have no freezer for few days would be a total total total nightmare.  Especially if there are pheasants present....
I think a few bags of salt is a must. 😜😅🤣

We have bought a house in the village 70 km brom Burgas. Hopefully the village makes enough commission...... to keeo power going

I just remainded myself of ancient ice machines and freezers that can still be found in Iran. ( they are actually wery smartly engineered buildings of simple design) They are able to produce ice and collect it.

We, as society are so dependent on electricity that we have already forgotten or what worse never learned about our ancestors ways. It' s a great privilege to be able to use a magic plastic switch to give us comfort but it's cool to know the alternatives. And pray we never have to use this ancient knowledge.....

kristiann

Actually you have found one of the secret places in Bulgaria, that cures asthma ,,,, not sure how it affects apnea. But just in case you still fight with the problem, it is a good idea to wake your husband shortly before sunrise, and send him walking along the beach. The iodine vapours will do a miracle for the asthma, but it is important to make those promenades before the sun shows up.

There's another "secret place" that is even more effective on asthma - this is the Sandanski mineral water resort, which is located in the far South-West corner of the country. I strongly recommend it.

And one more such place - it is in the high pine forests around Smolyan, Chepelare, Pamporovo. But it has to be in the summer ....

As for the one week without electricity, this is a total bullshit. Power shortages may appear in case of a storm, heavy snowfall, or even some rare events, but these do not last more than 30 minutes normally, or if there are some cables to repair/change, and it is in the mid of the winter, in a high mountain, probably could take 1-2 days, Not more. Worst case scenario.

info3339
@KingaCo. Clare
Congratulations with your new house. Near Burgas sounds very good.

It is true that clean air (and also sunlight) helps against apnea substancial.
info3339

@kristiann
Again I learned something about iodine particles, wandering along the beach before sunlight. I will certainly try this.

Johnavann
The power supply in Sveti Vlas is often interrupted bcause of construction.  The poser company EVN does a good job of responding to large power outages but no so god a job on individual properties.   I have converted to solar to avoid the outrageous increases in costs.   If you explore Solar, obtain several bids.  You will find that they come in close to each other in price but have vastly different equipment.  Spend the time to research which solar panes and installations are best through reference checking 

The bit=d i accepted was in the middle of the pricing however they did a complete solar survey and presented a detailes location pan with a warranty of 20 years.    Who knows if the world wil survive that long, but at least I know ai will hae power. 
Johnavann
@mick mcmullen

The contractor Or the owner must obtain permission from the municipality prior to installation

It’s a snap

The municipalities are behind Solar and view it as a good alternative

I understand that wind generation is currently banned which is a shame
Johnavann

@info3339

in St vlas it is weekly diring the season possibly due to overload.   these tend to be very short less than an hour.


And the same in the winter likely due to construction  these can be much longer than summer outages lasting up to 1/2 day, but I’ve never had lack of power overnight   


There have been a few occasions where we did not have power in the morning, but these tend to be due to overnight storms and are quickly rectified

Johnavann

@Johnavann      I have now learned that wind energy has been approved, although there are regulations as to noise measurement so be sure to explore this as an alternative, or as a combination with solar 


I have never experienced more than one half day without electricity and have never heard of anybody having that experience   

Dylan Davies

@Johnavann


Probably because we don't complain about it, it's just a part of living in Bulgaria. The longest I've been without power is 18 hours, it went out early evening and came back mid afternoon. Thankfully, whilst being tucked up in bed, I wasn't using lights or opening the fridge or freezer!


Our village (population of about 80) loses power quite regularly, especially during 'storms', I've actually given up on resetting the clock on our cooker! 1f602.svg1f602.svg

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