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Assuming the voltages are within tolerance in the first place a 3% drop should not be detrimental. Keep in mind that motors draw more current when operated at an over ANDunder voltage. The reason is counter-electromotive force or back EMF. When voltage decreases back EMF decreases offering less resistance to current. The motor draws more current and runs hot.
When overvoltage is present back EMF is saturated and opposition to current flow is only limited to the maximum back EMF and motor winding impedance. More current flows and the motor overheats.
Inductive loads will draw more current but maybe the ratio of resistive to inductive loads is offset enough it makes it feasible to the utility's.

You have a good point there. The overloading is attributed to air conditioners. The average load surely is not an incadescent light bulb.


[This message has been edited by Dspark (edited 09-05-2001).]

Dspark,

My mention of light bulbs was just a tangent, I in no way was putting the blame on their use...

I was merely stating that I use 130V bulbs because 120V bulbs don't last long around here due to the higher than nominal voltages...

Many uncouth electrical contractors have used this to get entire rewire jobs... When only a bulb change was needed...

130's last 6 months whereas 120's last about 4 weeks... Well worth the difference in cost.

Pardon my digression, it's in my character!...



[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 09-05-2001).]

I've lost the thread, we did have 190/109 + - here in the raging metropolis of Chester VT. We had UPS's quakin', fluor lights flickering, compressors blowing fuses....

the answer i recieved sounded real political.

where are those lama's when ya need 'em..?

Sparky,
I was going back to my original post of a couple of months ago referencing the CA deregulation and the threats of everything from short rolling blackouts to loss of the entire state's production, none of which has occurred.
This thread was brought back up after a couple of months of dormancy.

Are you possibly confusing this thread with
your thread regarding the 190-109 Volt problems you experienced in VT., titled "Brownout?"


[This message has been edited by electure (edited 09-05-2001).]

The rolling black-outs in California even made the BBC News over here.