[R-390] Voltage regulation and vintage equipment

[Bill Hawkins]

Lessee, not long ago, last winter perhaps, the complaint was high
line voltage, which can shorten tube life.

Most of the electrical power in a house goes to the refrigeration
compressor, unless you have electric heat or keep your stove on all
day long. Motor loads tend to constant power at constant speed, so
line current goes down as line voltage goes up.

Power distribution is limited by the current-carrying capacity of
the wires. The line voltage is raised in order to sell more power
without changing out existing equipment. The power company loses
money as the current goes up because of I**2 R losses. It makes no
sense for a power company to lower the distributed voltage, specially
during the air conditioning season.

It is far more likely that the growing population has overloaded the
existing equipment. This is all a part of the general neglect of
society's infrastructure, while raising profits by not repairing
things.

The 35W bridge in Minneapolis is the latest example of how our public
servants serve themselves, while emptying the treasury by pandering
to the "No taxes for me, thanks!" crowd.

I mean, there's "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and then there's
an inspection that says 50 of 150 things are not broke. Most things
have a tipping point, after which the collapse feeds on itself. The
'Me Generation' that hates taxes then points fingers at everyone but
themselves. That's how they got to be that way, by not taking any
responsibility for anything. And you and I vote for people that
pander to them to get through the next election.

Whoops, I fell off the soapbox ...

Bill Hawkins
Minneapolis