[AMRadio] 220 vac line

Tue Jul 26 22:47:58 EDT 2011

 I suspect part of the reason may be to reduce the current serving electric 
motors, when the voltage sags the current goes up and current goes down with 
higher voltage ( within reason of course)  The current is what causes the 
line loss, at least most of the line loss,  I x I x R = power.

 Regarding the neutral, remember that is the wire that runs to the centertap 
on the 240 volt secondary service, that must be a solid connection to 
maintain the 120 each side of the line. The ground may or may not be 
connected to the neutral and is almost never a good ( low impedance) ground. 
The typical 8 ft ground rod is simply terrible, frequently 20 Ohms or so. If 
120 goes to the
"grounded" chassis it simply flows 6 Ampers or so to ground and the chassis 
would be at 120 volts.
 My ground circuit here is eight 8 ft rods under and spread around  the 
footer all bussed together with #4 Cu, another #4 goes to the big ground 
rod, 5 inch pipe 180 feet deep.  measures about one Ohm. The main panel has 
a big fat MOV block on the secondary side of a 60 Ampere breaker.
--- Original Message ----- 
From: "BILL GUYGER" <bguyger at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service" 
<amradio at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 7:46 PM
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] 220 vac line

OK, just throwing out possibilities... I don't doubt your measuring ability 
for
one second, and I expect that you like most of the guys on this list have 
been
around the block a time or two and wasn't trying to talk down to you. If 
that
is how you perceived it, I apologize. I just get curious about voltages and 
the
like that are out of the norm and start thinking of what if's.

I too have seen line voltages that run high constantly, my pet theory is 
that
the power companies own major stock in light bulb manufacturing companies. 
Just
joking.....or am I? It would be a subtle way to make incandescent lamps burn 
out
slightly faster.

Bill

________________________________
From: rbethman <rbethman at comcast.net>
To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service <amradio at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tue, July 26, 2011 4:52:10 PM
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] 220 vac line

Bill - I do know what they look like! However, ALL this entire
community is UNDERGROUND with ground "surface" mounted transformers.

Absolutely NONE of them have the gauge that you describe, AND that I am
used to seeing on pole mounted above ground systems.

The ONLY place that would have such is a few miles away where the
substation is located.

Bob - N0DGN

On 7/26/2011 5:36 PM, BILL GUYGER wrote:
> The power companies will sometime tap the transformers up a bit to
> compensate for voltage drop in times of high load. Alternately there
> are regulators on the high voltage primary feeders that look like
> large pole pigs which are basically autotransformers with some
> rudimentary logic so that they can keep the line with in +/- so many
> percent. You can tell them by the large guage like device on the side
> that indicates where they are set at the moment and the limits they
> have been at. Your elevated line voltage is not THAT rare but not
> perfect either................. but then again what is now days? Bill
> AD5OL

> ________________________________

> From: rbethman <rbethman at comcast.net> To: Discussion of AM Radio in
> the Amateur Service <amradio at mailman.qth.net> Sent: Tue, July 26, 2011
> 9:30:24 AM Subject: Re: [AMRadio] 220 vac line Believe me - I've used
> every type of meter, to include one Weston direct reading panel meter,
> a TS-505D/U, a brand new Digital MM - NON Harbor Freight, and
> oscilloscope! We've had this issue for almost as long as I've lived
> here for the last 23 years. Everything in this part of the city is
> underground. ALL the utilities are their own quirky selves! I put a
> pressure gauge on the little goose neck that you put the shower head
> on. I'm in a split level Foyer type construction. The shower head I
> chose is the highest in the house. I got 130PSI. So immediately put in
> a pressure reducing valve in the main line from the street. This city
> of less than 160,000 has expanded a LOT since I moved here after
> retiring from Uncle Sam's Employ. They have been getting around the
> "issues" by pushing Voltage, and water pressure, in lieu of upgrades
> to account for the heavier use! So when I tell you the voltage, please
> don't take me for "intellectually" challenged. I'm one whom worked
> Power Production and Distribution while in Uncle Sam's Employ. To
> include a very intense course on Nuclear Power. The have even board
> certified us. It is what it reads. Bob - N0DGN
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