Anyone any electrical knowledge?

[Old Boar]

All I know about electricity is that it comes out of a plug, and is dangerous!
After the electicity board moved my mains lead to underground as it was too low above ground, I have had nothing but problems. Two freezers, a kettle, a toaster, a TV and endless lightbulbs have blown or just stopped working. They came out and tested the supply and found a reading of 22 and 249. They then came out and have put in a test box which they will leave for a week, but the reading then was 251. From them I understood that the legal limits are 215 to 251, so I was right at the top end.

So a couple of questions:-

If the power goes over the 251, would that cause the problems I have been having?

When they take the test box away, they can see the readings over the week, but would they admit it if it goes over 251?

What can I do about it?

No, my house insurance does not cover the freezers and I am loath to claim for the rest as I will be paying in premiums later. HELP!!!

 

[Dry Rot]

Can't really comment except to say keep careful records plus the opinion of a good electrician -- then slap in a claim!

 

[Notquiteretired]

Excessive voltage will definitely cause damage, surges are more common post power cut. Speak to the power comapany about getting surge suppressor/protectors for your appliances or if they can fit something to the consumer unit. Failing that try a local sparky.

 

[multi power]

Failing that try a local sparky.

finding a good sparky is easy, getting the said sparky to actually turn up n do something is altogether another matter

 

[Tonym]

I had the same problem with constantly blowing bulbs. I was told voltage should be 220v plus or minus 10 percent so 244v was the upper limit. After a week recording the voltage they sent a graph with all the spikes removed at 244v and said it was in limits and if I wanted the transformer turned down I would have to pay.

 

[Netherfield]

Should be 230v + or - 10%

 

[llamedos]

Have you an old appliance in the house that is still working? Fridge or similar, on the same circuit. Most surges are within your own home, would be worth getting your older appliances checked.

More modern appliances are usually the fist to go.

 

[Old Boar]

finding a good sparky is easy, getting the said sparky to actually turn up n do something is altogether another matter

Yup, said sparky has a new van so is probably trying to find half his stuff in the other van...

Old fridge, (now 64 years old) is on its own circuit.
Why does it take 4 females with PMT to change a light bulb?
IT JUST DOES. LEAVE THEM ALONE!

 

[Andy26]

The new underground cable is perhaps of a greater diameter and also a shorter distance from the transformer than the original cable, thus the voltage drop will be less than before. It's likely the transformer was calibrated for voltage with the old cable, but hasn't had the windings adjusted for your new cable or in the case of some transformers there will be different tappings to vary the voltage.

 

[multi power]

Yup, said sparky has a new van so is probably trying to find half his stuff in the other van...

Old fridge, (now 64 years old) is on its own circuit.
Why does it take 4 females with PMT to change a light bulb?
IT JUST DOES. LEAVE THEM ALONE!

i was hoping that now he has a new van to pay for he might be a bit more motavited to do something n earn some money

 

[Old Boar]

i was hoping that now he has a new van to pay for he might be a bit more motavited to do something n earn some money

HOW well do you know him???

The new underground cable is perhaps of a greater diameter and also a shorter distance from the transformer than the original cable, thus the voltage drop will be less than before. It's likely the transformer was calibrated for voltage with the old cable, but hasn't had the windings adjusted for your new cable or in the case of some transformers there will be different tappings to vary the voltage.

I have sort of translated this to mean that a fatter wire may have made a difference, and someone has not turned down the volume?

 

[DrWazzock]

HOW well do you know him???



I have sort of translated this to mean that a fatter wire may have made a difference, and someone has not turned down the volume?

That's right.

Or do you have a neighbour who is switching something big on and off? This can cause spikes.

I would say though that a sustained smooth over voltage wouldn't do damage to most appliances but it's worth having the transformer adjusted to bring your supply into the right range.

A spike also won't generally blow things like motors or heaters but could damage sensitive electronics.

I am surprised your kettle succumbed. Did have some fancy electronics on it. Inwould have thought a kettle element would have coped with spikes or sustained over voltage.

Your electric fencing is properly installed and not using the mains earth by any chance??

 

[Old Boar]

Kettle bog standard sit on a plate type thing, a year old, but not used when the Rayburn is on.
Electric fence earth is a huge metal post sunk deep in the ground.
Maybe it is just all a coincidence! Have you seen the price of light bulbs!!!

 

[DrWazzock]

Kettle bog standard sit on a plate type thing, a year old, but not used when the Rayburn is on.
Electric fence earth is a huge metal post sunk deep in the ground.
Maybe it is just all a coincidence! Have you seen the price of light bulbs!!!

I'm sure they make the bulbs so they only last a short time. That way they sell more. Are you still using the old filament light bulbs or the fancy new low energy ones that take ages to warm up and when they blow have to be treated as hazardous waste.

Whoever invented the ones that take ages to warm up, hasn't had to visit the bathroom urgently at the dead of night. After a few "shots in the dark" we had to change our bathroom light back to an old fashioned filament bulb.

 

[TheTallGuy]

I would have to say that it's unlikely that a kettle or toaster would fail on a marginally high supply as they are basically just heater elements and it usually takes a bit to send them over the edge, ordinary filament light bulbs are susceptible to high supply as most newer ones are cr*p.

UK supply is statutory 230V nominal +10%, -6% so the range is -215.6-253V. Equipment is supposed to be able to tolerate a supply sustained at these levels without failure, although degraded performance is permissible provided the degradation doesn't present a safety issue - e.g. a it's fine for a kettle to be a bit faster or slower as the supply fluctuates, but a stairlift ought to be a constant speed. There are also rules on being able to handle transients/spikes, but that's quite a complex matter. If the power company says that nothing is wrong then ask them for the detailed results, otherwise it may be worth hiring a Power Recorder/Voltage Quality Recorder or similar, I've used a Fluke VR1710 in the past & it does the job. Basic models are around £50 a week so it's not cheap, but then neither is replacing appliances all the time!

 

[multi power]

what about a power surge procetor that plugs in? i have a couple here, think they were half price in woolworths closing down sale

 

[TheTallGuy]

what about a power surge procetor that plugs in? i have a couple here, think they were half price in woolworths closing down sale

They are not much cop in my experience/opinion (before anyone bites my head off!) - the components inside have limited ability to absorb surges & almost certainly not enough to handle surges capable of blowing kettles & toasters. If they came from the Woolies closing down sale then I wouldn't be surprised if they were empty...

 

[JCMaloney]

Whats your domestic fusebox like? Circuit breaker/trip switches..... or old ceramic pull out push in with fencing wire as a fuse?
If its the former that should trip before your appliance goes bang....... EB will probably try & blame your domestic wiring as being unable to cope with "fluctuations"....its how they are.

 

[Andy26]

They could of connected you up to a different phase, are there any neighbouring properties? If domestic and its a three phase transformer, each property will be on a different phase, to balance it as best they can.

When we had a new transformer fitted they had to check the three phase motors to ensure they were all running the correct way.

 

[Old Boar]

Domestic fuse box is proper job with little takeoutethingys with proper wire (they checked that!).
Another thought has occured to me (it hurt!) is that if my power comes in at above the normal rate, do I get less or more kilowatt hours per pence?