[Elecraft] Items you think you can depend on

[Mel Farrer]

I built up this NEMA box and put the analog current and voltage meters in it.  That gave me a good platform to build the peak sensing circuit and alarm.  Since I also have solar bank on the ham equipment, I used the battery to sound the alarm when either the voltage goes high or low like in a brown out.  Of course that only does good when I am home.........
Mel, K6KBE

      From: "Charlie T, K3ICH" <pincon at erols.com>
 To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
 Sent: Tuesday, September 5, 2017 11:37 AM
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Items you think you can depend on
   
I've bought some little Chicom plug-in Line Voltage monitors that are rated
to run from 80 to 300 VAC for about $5 each through eBay, free shipping/no
tax.
They are completely self-contained with the two prong standard US blade plug
built-in.
The background illumination is blue LED and they're about 1/3 the size of a
pack of Lucky's.
The only problem I've found with them is that after about 5 years of 24/7
use, the background illumination isn't as bright as a new one, but still
perfectly readable.

73, Charlie k3ICH



-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Rhodes
Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2017 2:12 PM
To: Elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Items you think you can depend on

So what are people using to monitor their 120/240 mains? Just curious but
wondering if this is something I should be doing.

Mike / W8DN

On 9/4/2017 1:32 PM, Mel Farrer via Elecraft wrote:
> Funny you posted this.
> I monitor BOTH sides of the 110/220 VAC service and have alarms set to
trigger either line >125 or >250 VAC. Being in the country THINGS happen.
> Always expect the unusual.
> Mel, K6KBE
>
>
>        From: David Robertson <kd1na363 at gmail.com>
>  To: Elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
>  Sent: Monday, September 4, 2017 9:39 AM
>  Subject: [Elecraft] Items you think you can depend on
>    
> Everyone,
>
>  Over time we can grow complacent on many service items such as 
> electrical power, water and other services over time. Well that can be 
> concerning as many hidden changes can result in damage to your home and
equipment.
>
> Late late night I came in to my den and was closing down my ham 
> station when I notice my fault light on my KPA500 linear was on. I 
> powered it down and retired for the evening. This morning I powered up 
> the linear (KPA500) and at once I got a fault light and had a high 
> voltage alert. I powered down the linear and checked my input line 
> voltage. It was 137 volts RMS! To be sure it wasn't my imagination I 
> rechecked the voltage with a different meter with the same result. In 
> checking the 220 volt outlet I measured 274 volts! My linear is set up 
> for 220 volts operation and it was getting over
> 90 volts HV.
>
> I alerted the neighbors and cut the main breaker to the house. I then 
> called the power company's service number and reported the problem. A 
> short time later they called me back and reported that a regulator in 
> the local sub station had "Stuck" and was reset. In rechecking my line 
> voltage it was
> 118 volts on the low side and 236 volts on the high side.
>
> In the 12 years we have been at this qth we found that our town's 
> locally run power company has been very reliable but this experience 
> showed me that it is not a bad idea to check your line voltage every once
in a while.
> 73
>

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