Glossary
Voltage (tensión eléctrica, volts)
Voltage is the potential difference that pushes current around a circuit, measured in volts (V). In Spain it is 230 V on single-phase supplies and 400 V between phases on three-phase ones.
What voltage is
A handy comparison is water in a pipe: voltage is the pressure and current (amps) is the flow. Voltage is what pushes electrons to move when you close a circuit. Without voltage there is no current, even if the cable is connected.
What voltage Spanish homes have
- Single-phase: 230 V between live and neutral. The norm in homes.
- Three-phase: 400 V between two phases and 230 V between each phase and neutral. Used in warehouses, shops, residential buildings and homes with large loads.
All household appliances sold in Spain are designed for 230 V, as in the UK and Ireland. Appliances brought from the US, built for 120 V, need a transformer unless they are rated for both voltages.
Voltage and current
Voltage, in volts, is the push. Current, in amps, is how much flows. Power, in watts, is the product of the two. So at the same 230 V, an appliance drawing more current has more power.
When it rises or drops
- If it drops: voltage drop in long or thin cables, or a loose joint. Lights dim, motors struggle to start and some appliances overheat.
- If it rises suddenly for an instant: a transient overvoltage, typical during storms.
- If it rises and stays high: a permanent overvoltage, nearly always from a broken neutral, which can burn out everything plugged in.
How to detect it
Lights that flicker, glow brighter than usual or dim when an appliance starts are the clearest signs. An electrician measures the voltage with a multimeter at several points and times to tell whether the problem is in your installation or the network. See electrical inspection and flickering lights in Seville, Spain.
Related services
Electrical inspection
A home electrical safety inspection in Seville, Spain tells you, with measurements rather than guesswork, what state your home is in: earthing, cable insulation, RCDs, fuse board and cable sizes. You get a report with what is fine, what is worth improving and what is urgent. Ideal before buying, renting or renovating.
Flickering lights
Lights flickering in your apartment, or dipping every time something switches on, are not a minor detail: they usually warn of a loose contact, a faulty neutral or a voltage drop in a cable that has become too small. An electrician in Seville, Spain measures, finds the source and repairs it before it turns into a bigger fault.
Need an electrician in Seville, Spain?
Call us or send a WhatsApp message with a photo of the job. You get a fixed quote before any work starts.