[Boatanchors] OT: Whole-house bucking/regulation

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

And electrical codes aside, there would also be the practical problem of 
hooking up whatever you planned to use.  Generally, the meter is wired 
directly to the input to the main panel, which is usually a mains breaker.  In all 
of the panels I'm familiar with, there is no way to insert anything in 
series between the main breaker and the buss in the panel.  Which means that your 
buck transformer would have to be electrically between the meter and the 
panel.  The only way to kill power to those wires is to pull the meter.  ConEd 
probably has a seal on the retaining band which will have to be cut.  Next 
time someone comes to read the meter, the cut or missing seal will be 
spotted.  Or if the meter is a smart meter, they won't have to come out to know 
the meter was pulled.

In a message dated 12/15/2011 14:15:21 PM Central Standard Time, 
jfor at quikus.com writes: 
> A whole house Variac is impractical.
> 
> >From an EE point of view, you could use a Variac to control the input to 
> a
> pair (one for each phase) of something like 120:10 volt buck transformers.
> Each trandformer would have to be speced at 10 V @ 200A
> 
> You could also use a 240 V Variac with 240:10 transformers.
> 
> However, you might have a lot of code issues.
> 
> Best,
> 
> -John
> 
> ==================
> 
> 
> 
> >Hi all,
> >
> >
> >
> >Sorry for the OT, but you folks are too knowledgeable about stuff for me
> >to
> >ignore.
> >
> >
> >
> >My house voltage is high, often reaching 130V.  Many of you will tell me
> >to
> >call the local power company (con ed) and have them come out and fix.
> >Well,
> >that is one option. I would like to explore another option. Does anyone
> >know
> >if a variac of sorts can be purchased to cover a house with 200A service?
> >Or
> >a bucking transformer? That would at least give me control over this 
> whole
> >thing. Plus, I could probably lower the voltage to 110 or 115 and save
> >some
> >money with a lower electrical bill (light bulbs would last longer, boat
> >anchors would be happier, there would be peace on earth, etc.).
> >
> >
> >
> >---
> >
> >73 Eugene W2HX
> >
> >
> >
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> 

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