[Boatanchors] Storm Damage to Electronics

[J. Forster]

When the neutral failed, the sides of the flat two-phase were unbalanced.

Instead of it being 120-0-120; the voltages were divided unequally, such
as 210-0-30.

The line-to-line stayed the same, but the line-to-neutral went way up on
one side, way down on the other.

The overvoltage blew stuff.

-John

===================



> All,
>
> Maybe you can help me understand some damage to the electronics of my
> neighbors.
>
> During the recent northeast snow storm ten neighbors, all on one PPL
> transformer, lost power.  Power was lost because branches pulled the
> electric services from both halves of a duplex (semi-detached house).
> At the same time that the power was lost, there was a voltage spike that
> blew out all kinds of solid state devices (Yeah, I know, if they had
> tubes...).  What were lost were things that are always on (stoves,
> furnaces, heat pumps, microwaves) or "on" even when they are turned
> "off" (TVs, principally).   There were reports that the lights suddenly
> became brighter and that there was a sizzling noise.
>
> The story is that, when the two services were pulled from the walls, the
> neutrals were broken and the spikes were the result.
>
> Would someone please explain why the voltage spiked when the neutrals
> were lost?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ron
>
> --
> Ron Hunsicker
> 1238 Cleveland Avenue
> Wyomissing, PA 19610-2102
> 610-478-0371
> ronhunsi at ptd.net
>
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