[ARC5] BC 453 request - ham radio

[CARL HUETHER]

US companies also use caps on some long rural runs to balance loads. I watched one light off about 25-30 years ago.

Carl




> On November 1, 2019 at 12:33 PM Richard Knoppow <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> 
> 
>     A diode will cut the voltage. I think the bulb savers were 
> varistors, voltage variable resistors. These do cut inrush 
> current but that is not a problem with CF or LED lamps. The 
> tungsten filament of incandescent lamps has a large positive 
> temperature coefficient of resistance so the lamps have 
> relatively low resistance when cold becoming less as they come up 
> to operating temperature.
>     What the Oz folk may be concerned with is power factor, 
> American power companies are also. High power factor inductive 
> loads make conventional watt-hour meters read low (i.e. you get 
> the power cheap). Most power companies have banks of capacitors 
> at their distribution stations to cut in to keep the power factor 
> as close to unity as possible. Some power companies will give you 
> a price break on the power if you have a capacitive load.
>     BTW, I have been in a distribution plant yard when a bank of 
> caps was switched in, it sounded like a cannon going off.
> 
> On 11/1/2019 7:29 AM, Doran Platt wrote:
> > Very interesting point, Brian.  I never even considered that 
> > factor.  I wonder how this would affect things on the grander scale?
> > Jeep K3HVG
> >> On November 1, 2019 at 9:10 AM Brian Clarke 
> >> <brianclarke01 at optusnet.com.au> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hello Jeep,
> >>
> >> If those lamps are being fed from the AC mains, then a diode in 
> >> series sends DC back into the mains. In Australia, that is 
> >> illegal because it reduces the effectiveness of distribution 
> >> transformers, the pole pigs in the USA. Further, putting diodes 
> >> in series with the mains generates spikes that can cause EMI. 
> >> You could follow your idea and not send DC back into the AC 
> >> mains if you balance your use of diodes, so that always an even 
> >> number is turned on and one half of the diodes are in reverse 
> >> to the other half. You would still need to deal with the EMI.
> >>
> >> 73 de Brian, VK2GCE
> >>
> >> *From:*arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> >> [mailto:arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net] *On Behalf Of *Doran Platt
> >> *Sent:* Friday, 1 November 2019 10:00 PM
> >> *To:* arc5 at mailman.qth.net
> >> *Subject:* Re: [ARC5] BC 453 request - ham radio
> >>
> >> Funny thing, I was want to add a 1N4005 diode in cords and lamp 
> >> fixtures, etc.  It was quite amazing how the life of incand. 
> >> bulbs was extended.  No inrush, although less lumins, of 
> >> course.  A 100w would last 2-3 years as an outside night 
> >> light.  They used to sell "bulbsaver" socket disks.
> >>
> >> Jeep K3HVG
> >>
> > 
> > 
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> 
> -- 
> Richard Knoppow
> 1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> WB6KBL
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