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Post by AudioHTIT on Aug 3, 2021 14:54:19 GMT -5
OK,read the posts and housetech got me curious. I grabbed my Fluke and went to the easiest to reach, the master bath that's a GFI outlet and it had a window fan plugged in and running. Its one of those with the AC motor that I call transformer motors as the plates resemble an old style transformer. I had 0.417 VAC. I started going around the house and everyone I checked had a different reading. They ranged from 0.417 to 0.003 VAC. Normal? Yes. 3% of normal voltage in the USA is allowable. What is considered the normal / nominal voltage in the US, when is it considered over or under voltage? (independent of anything going on with Neutral or Ground) |
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ttocs
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I always have a wonderful time, wherever I am, whomever I'm with. (Elwood P Dowd)
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Post by ttocs on Aug 3, 2021 15:03:22 GMT -5
What is considered the normal / nominal voltage in the US, when is it considered over or under voltage? (independent of anything going on with Neutral or Ground) In my neck of the wape, nape of the woods, around here, it's supposedly 120V. But in practice I've seen 132V as the "norm" a couple towns over, and in my neighborhood it was in the 119-128V range but averaged 125V most of the time for about 5 years, but for months now it's been 117-122V, which is about as close as one could get to 120V. The thing that was tough on my Panamaxs was when it was hovering at 125V and it was constantly switching between "no change to incoming voltage" to adjusting to -10V of incoming voltage. |
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Post by leonski on Aug 3, 2021 15:11:56 GMT -5
My POWER CONDITIONER.....a Panamax from a decade+ ago.....will shut OFF all outlets if voltage EXCEEDS 135v or drops BELOW about 95v.
I has done so 5 or 6 times since I owned it....
It also has a 400va isolation transformer which has switching for what THEY call 'balanced' or 'isolated'......
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Post by DavidR on Aug 3, 2021 15:14:07 GMT -5
What is considered the normal / nominal voltage in the US, when is it considered over or under voltage? (independent of anything going on with Neutral or Ground) I thought 115V was considered nominal with 110V on the low side and 125V on the high side. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Aug 3, 2021 15:25:12 GMT -5
What is considered the normal / nominal voltage in the US, when is it considered over or under voltage? (independent of anything going on with Neutral or Ground) In my neck of the wape, nape of the woods, around here, it's supposedly 120V. But in practice I've seen 132V as the "norm" a couple towns over, and in my neighborhood it was in the 119-128V range but averaged 125V most of the time for about 5 years, but for months now it's been 117-122V, which is about as close as one could get to 120V. The thing that was tough on my Panamaxs was when it was hovering at 125V and it was constantly switching between "no change to incoming voltage" to adjusting to -10V of incoming voltage. I was thinking of the actual standard, just Googled. According to Wiki: The United States and Canada use a supply voltage of 120 volts ± 6%, so 112.8 VAC to 127.2 VAC. PG&E (my provider) says: 120 +/- 5% or 114 to 126, didn't see a specific quoting of NEC. I'm usually between 124 - 125 as measured via various VOM's, though the Furman power conditioner on my studio gear usually reads 129 - 130 (it's handy when something is always wrong the same amount 🙂). So looks like I'm on the high side of normal. 😎🤪 |
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ttocs
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I always have a wonderful time, wherever I am, whomever I'm with. (Elwood P Dowd)
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Post by ttocs on Aug 3, 2021 16:19:04 GMT -5
. . . . didn't see a specific quoting of NEC. The diagram I posted last night on page 1 is from NEC which shows 120V. My Bob Latino tube amps aren't happy when incoming is above 117V and the internal voltages are close to maximum, so I use a Variac and have found that 113-117V isn't too difficult to monitor by glancing at the meter. That range works well. Bob Latino recommended I keep the voltage at 117V. So I checked what happens with different voltages and found 117V to be almost exactly in the middle of a 40V range that's spec'd for one of the tube pins, which ranges from 490-530V. 117.1V line volts = 512V at the pin, whereas 120.6V = 554V, which is way too high and +24V over the max. So it's a 42V swing just from a 3.5V increase from the line. A few volts make a pretty big difference. And some folks wonder why their Dynaco amps run hot. |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Aug 3, 2021 16:33:06 GMT -5
. . . . didn't see a specific quoting of NEC. The diagram I posted last night on page 1 is from NEC which shows 120V. My Bob Latino tube amps aren't happy when incoming is above 117V and the internal voltages are close to maximum, so I use a Variac and have found that 113-117V isn't too difficult to monitor by glancing at the meter. That range works well. Bob Latino recommended I keep the voltage at 117V. So I checked what happens with different voltages and found 117V to be almost exactly in the middle of a 40V range that's spec'd for one of the tube pins, which ranges from 490-530V. 117.1V line volts = 512V at the pin, whereas 120.6V = 554V, which is way too high and +24V over the max. So it's a 42V swing just from a 3.5V increase from the line. A few volts make a pretty big difference. And some folks wonder why their Dynaco amps run hot. I seem to remember at … some time in the past, the standard being 117, maybe an electronics teacher saying 117V +/- 10% … but I was so much younger then, I’m older than that now. |
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ttocs
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I always have a wonderful time, wherever I am, whomever I'm with. (Elwood P Dowd)
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Post by ttocs on Aug 3, 2021 16:38:13 GMT -5
Bob Dylan, The Birds ^^^^^^
(now that song is playing in my head, but it's a great song!)
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Post by audiobill on Aug 3, 2021 17:07:51 GMT -5
My back pages…..
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Post by AudioHTIT on Aug 3, 2021 17:38:19 GMT -5
Bob Dylan, The Birds ^^^^^^ (now that song is playing in my head, but it's a great song!) … with a little poetic license … and apologies to Mr Zimmerman (and thanks for a great song) … got me to pick up my guitar 🎸 |
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Post by leonski on Aug 3, 2021 18:51:43 GMT -5
My 'measured' voltage varies seasonally.
During peak demand time of Summer? It'll drop to nearly 114 or so. If it goes below about 115, I shut stuff off and unplug stereo / TV.
Peak voltage runs about 121 or so.
According to my Kill-A-Watt meter which is always plugged in? right this minute? 118V, which is fine.....It's hot out, but NOT broiling so
AC is running but it is already cooling......
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Post by vcautokid on Aug 4, 2021 1:52:46 GMT -5
Curious, you mentioned 2 Rotel amplifiers with no problems. Which ones are they?
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