Most of the time now at my place the AC mains supply sits at around 225 volts. This must be the new POWER SAVING standard. The ordinary room lighting is so gloomy now that I find I need to use a hand held LED spotlight to inspect for finer points of detail. My valve radio receivers now do not work properly as a result of low input to the heaters and resulting low cathode emission. Might look for a different tapping point on the power transformers. Really the mains voltage is way too low. Look out for the future !!!!!
LOW mains voltage.
- Thread starter BillC
- Start date
Not sure when it changed, but they lowered the nominal delivery voltage to 230V +10% -6% in Victoria, so the allowable limits are currently
Australian standards require electricity to be supplied at 230 V (+10% to -6%), therefore providing an allowable voltage supply range between 253 V to 216 V. Voltage is generally supplied to NSW users between 250 V and 240 V. How does voltage optimisation apply to your site?
It used to be 240 +-6% before they changed the standard, I'm guessing that they recently did some transformer upgrade work in your area and you've moved onto the new standard when they changed the transformer.
Not sure what the logic is behind the change, I have heard that rooftop solar causes fluctuations in grid supply voltages.
I have some 240V to 230V auto transformers, I'll bring one along to the next club meeting, you could just swap input and output to give you 230 in and 240 out.
They were originally supplied to Broadcast Australia to power their 230V satellite recievers that used to overheat on 240
Australian standards require electricity to be supplied at 230 V (+10% to -6%), therefore providing an allowable voltage supply range between 253 V to 216 V. Voltage is generally supplied to NSW users between 250 V and 240 V. How does voltage optimisation apply to your site?
It used to be 240 +-6% before they changed the standard, I'm guessing that they recently did some transformer upgrade work in your area and you've moved onto the new standard when they changed the transformer.
Not sure what the logic is behind the change, I have heard that rooftop solar causes fluctuations in grid supply voltages.
I have some 240V to 230V auto transformers, I'll bring one along to the next club meeting, you could just swap input and output to give you 230 in and 240 out.
They were originally supplied to Broadcast Australia to power their 230V satellite recievers that used to overheat on 240
Thanks for the info Ray. What is a standard ? Something that can be changed at any time ! Tonight we have 235V AC. The extra 10 volts makes a huge difference to both the house lighting and the operation of my valve operated receivers, the valves just do not work correctly with abt. 5 volts on the heaters. The power system has recently been "upgraded " in our area with a safety overload automatic cutout system, the idea is that shorted lines will not spark therefore no fires. This new station is in a heavily fenced compound in the HV. line between Benalla and Euroa. I too have heard that rooftop solar causes supply regulation problems. Cheers.
Good question Bill, what is the point of having a standard? Especially when they keep changing it.
I guess it's better than the USA, I was working in a cannery in Oroville North California when the PG&E ( Pacific Gas and Electric ) guy turned up to see the head electrician and see if his 480V 3phase supply was ok, the electrician said it was a bit on the low side and could he move it up a tap on the transformer.
Could you imagine doing that with Powercor, hey mate can you bump us up to the next tap.
I guess it's better than the USA, I was working in a cannery in Oroville North California when the PG&E ( Pacific Gas and Electric ) guy turned up to see the head electrician and see if his 480V 3phase supply was ok, the electrician said it was a bit on the low side and could he move it up a tap on the transformer.
Could you imagine doing that with Powercor, hey mate can you bump us up to the next tap.
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