CES Loses Power For 2 Hours, Maybe Make Electronics For That?

The 2018 Consumer Electronics Show was supposed to be that event where all the latest gadgets and gizmos are showed off by various companies. In a hilarious twist, the event lost power for almost two hours, leading to some areas getting closed. For an event that showcases the latest and greatest of technological advances, a power outage is all it takes to bring all of it down to earth.

As Bloomberg notes, even with all the next-level technology present at the CES, it would seem that the event was still not safe from the enemy of all electronics: a blackout. While not a particularly significant issue, given that it was addressed in a couple of hours, it was still a disconcerting turn of events, especially given the kind of conference that it was.

Practically everything at the CES was running on electricity and while the backup generator did kick in, which powered some booths, many areas were left in the dark. This resulted in attendees getting led out of the affected areas until power could be restored.

As to what caused the outage, in the first place, it would seem that it was due to condensation following heavy rainfall. This was according to the Consumer Technology Association, after the building’s transformers were checked, The Verge reports.

“A preliminary assessment indicates that condensation from heavy rainfall caused a flashover on one of the facility’s transformers,” the CTA’s statement reads. “We are grateful to NV Energy for their swift assistance, to our customers and their clients for their patience and to the staff for ensuring the safety and security of all attendees and exhibitors.”

All in all, the interruption did not cause any major problems and the event proceeded as normal once the power came back at 1 p.m. PT. It did add an interesting twist to an exhibit that was already full of surprises.