ECN Forum Forums Photo Discussion Forums Photos for General Discussion What's Foreign?

Another strange find fromLostazhell

This is a service in Bakersfield, CA. The Voltage reads right at 120/208 on a meter.

I always understood "foreign voltage" to mean that there was power inside that was not shut off by the disconnect. In otherwords, from more than one source.

Is Bakersfield on the Mexican border? Maybe the electricity comes from Mexico, and thus is foreign voltage.

The best thing is that it is CLEARLY marked for "FOREGN VOLTAGE"...As opposed to no marking at all...

maybe it is exported from the u.s. and our voltage is foregn to them......

Maybe the electrons have been flown in and imported from china?? - maybe cuts down on the cost for the electricity board?

I wonder if the foreign electrons have their own suitcases with them, hmmmm.....

Maybe it fed a 400V wye transformer at one time?

Grid-tied photovoltaic system?

I agree with Reno. Consider a motor control panel having a disconnect for the 3-phase power, but the 120V control power is on a separate branch circuit. Since the control circuit has no disconnect within the panel, it's a foreign voltage.