Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

We live in Karsiyaka, and have been having terrible problems with our electricity supply, mainly in the evenings, when the oven won't heat, the immersion heater only produces luke warm water, and we are stumbling around with really dim lights etc. I would be grateful to know if this is happening to other people in other areas, or if it is just our supply, so that I know where to start to try to do something about it. Could it be something to do with the trouble at Kibtek? Any enlightenment on the subject would be great. Thanks

We live in Karsiyaka (seaside) and have to say, we do not experience the problems you describe.



Not an expert with electrics, but have you checked your main fuse in the outside electric box to make sure it hasn't for any reason worked itself loose for any reason and is disrupting your supply?

There is a similar thread on another Board, so it looks like your not the only one having problems

http://northerncypus.createforumhosting ... 34357.html

Thanks, puppy and scubaboy. I will join the other forum and have a look. I must say, I am a little disappointed that a few people have viewed this post and only you two have bothered to reply.

Our electric is not much better here in Lapta, oven takes ages to cook anything.

Well Hippocampus you asked for replies, though I am afraid you may not like the following!

Welcome to Northern Cyprus! I assume you are you are fairly new here and have not yet realised that the infrastructure is under continual threat and the electricity supply has always been erratic and sometimes goes away completely! Some of us are just grateful that in this very cold weather we have electricity at all!

This unfortunately is what happens when a large number of people from a long established sophisticated counry (Like the UK) move ro a very new and tehchnically and politically unsophisticated and inexperienced country like the TRNC (which is additionally under the disadvantage of international nonrecognititon) because they perceive the cost of living to be cheaper and and expect - and in some cases actually demand - the same standard of provision of public services.

In the demand for electricty as well as many others areas, demand - both in terms of numbers of consumers and in the diversity and number of of fancy devices it is required to serve - continues to outstrip supply. The authorities are continually trying to upgrade and improve - whether always wisely or not is a matter for debate elsewhere - but they seem to keep running to stand still. From where I stand this is a great shame as these unmeetable demands are ruining the character of the country and making life very hard for those of us came here prepared to live comparatively simply - however I veer off topic.

I dont live in your area, and am no expert in electicity but variations in voltage level are pretty normal and the fact your problems are worse in the evening do indicate that the problem is simply that your voltage is dropping at times of greatest demand. However , whilst your descriptions are somewhat subjective, they do sound rather worse than average it might be worth getting the switch board and wiring professionally checked. You should be aware that a greater danger is when there is a voltage surge (particularly after an outage) and sensitive equipment can be damaged. There are threads here advising on equipment to avoid this.

For the rest, it is a matter of whether you ar eprepared to adapt. For everyone's sake, minimise non essential use of electricity and other services. Use washing machines and water heaters at off peak times (ie generally not beforemeals or at the codest time of day). I have never got an overhead llight adequate for reading and sewing (mind I alsohave high ceilings) and use table lamps for these purposes and strip lights over work surfaces ; which also gives me a second line of defence if voltage fluctuations flip the trip switch.

I hope you are stocked up for emergency supplies for heat and light and cooking: candles, picic stoves, batteries etc.as very low voltage is often a warning of an outage.

Why don't you call in a qualified electrician who has measuring equipment to measure your voltage. This way you can accurately inform Kibtek about your voltage problem.
I have all the necessary meters if you require me to come to Karsiyaka

I have always found this to be the problem in the cold weather. Last night my electric blanket never got past slightly warm, thank goodness for the hot water bottle, and the water heater always takes at least 1 1/2 hrs in very cold weather. That's life here.

Also worth talking to your immediate neighbours to see if they are having problems (particularly if you are on a new development) as this could indicate a problem at the local sub-station.

Incidentally I have been told that distance from a sub-station can have an affect on voltage - ie the farther away the lower the voltage - do any of the experts here know if this is correct?

Thanks for all your input. No, Rose, I am not new here, I have been here 9 yrs so am well aware of all the problems. This latest one is excessive, the neighbours have a problem too, but from what I am reading above, it seems to be happening in other areas also.

The "this is Cyprus" excuse for everything that isn't up to scratch wears a bit thin at times. There is no excuse for allowing rampant development when the infrastructure cannot support it, at the expense of those that were here to start with! And if there is not enough electricity to go round, why allow the absolute forest of huge illuminated shop signs everywhere, and instal motorway strength street lights on tiny dirt roads, etc. etc.

I agree with you that too much Development too fast has been allowed, Hippo, but it is hard to blame the Cypriots for that - with no other opportunities to get currency by international trade, it is understandable that they did not realise the gift horse of apparently niaive expat house buyers would bite - and kick. I personally also think there is less excuse for those who come toa country they should be aware has a fragile international status , and therefore economy. and insist on living a sophisticated and high tech lifestyle that is not natural to the coutry, at theexpense of others.

The illuminated signs also presumably generate income - though I find it hard to accept it is worth it, particularly as they are also a hazzard to drivers. Personally I havent seen decent lighting (let alone motorway strength) on dirt roads or even narrow metalled well used village roads,but then I cant go out at night because of that other unfair ill effect of recent development - heavy traffic mainly consisting of over large vehicles with blinding headlights.

However back to your original question: I have not experienced in the last week or two lower voltage than I have experienced over the last 15 years at times of year when everyone reaches for the "high" switch regardless, nor have I heard of any industral action affecting voltage level. If, with 9 years experience the level seems significantly lower than normal to you and others locally are saying the same, it doesnt seem unreasonable to approach Kibtech and check there isnt some local equipment fault.