Fwd: Fw: [Hallicrafters] Solid State rectifiers vs Vacuum Tube rectifiers

[Glen Zook]

All of the major electric companies and many of the
smaller ones now maintain 125 volts +/- 2 volts.  This
is to be able to supply all of the energy necessary to
run "modern" appliances, air conditioning, etc. 
During the warmer months you will generally have the
voltage on the "+" side.

TXU (the electric company for about half the State of
Texas) has maintained the 125 volt standard for at
least 20 years.  I worked for TXU for 10 years
starting in 1989 until 1999 when they eliminated the
telecommunications department.  The line voltage was
the 125 volt standard when I went to work for them.

I was on the TXU "speakers bureau" and at every place
that I gave a presentation there was always a question
as to why light bulbs did not last very long.  The
answer is that most people purchase light bulbs at
grocery stores, WalMart, etc., and what they get are
120 volt bulbs.  Those bulbs, when operated at 125
volts (or higher), last between 10% and 20% of their
rated life at 120 volts.  The answer is to get 130
volt bulbs which are available at most home
improvement centers, specialty lighting stores, etc. 
Often the 130 volt bulbs are slightly cheaper than the
120 volt bulbs but last at least 10 times longer than
the 120 volt bulbs.

The line voltage "standard" has changed from 110
volts, to 115 volts, to 117 volts, to 120 volts, and
now is 125 volts.  This is due to the fact that the
electric company now has to furnish more and more
"electrons" using the same wires running down the
street, alley, or underground that have been in place
for decades.  The cost to replace these wires with
larger ones would be astronomical.  Thus, the higher
voltage is now the "standard" in the United States.

Glen, K9STH


--- W4AWM at aol.com wrote:

My viltage here in Virginia, in the approximate middle
of the run, is always in the vicinity of 123 to 126V.
Complaints to the power company are ignored.









Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com


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