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#14931 10/04/03 01:49 AM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 32
G
Member
Resqcapt19... lights dim ?? That is the first thing that I would think is a loose neutral. Light's .. not a 240v line to line. Have not been on ENC for over a year ! This is fun checking back ! whyrag

#14932 10/04/03 02:08 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Member
Guys,
Do your A/C units use Soft-Start/Current Ramp up technology?.
This would seriously reduce the Start-Up in-rush current, which by experience is 5-7 times FLA.
Just wondering. [Linked Image]

#14933 10/04/03 05:44 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 123
P
Member
Would adding start capacitors help?

#14934 10/04/03 06:25 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 198
Z
Member
I ran into this same problem this summer,on a house I wired last year. Have 15 ton of A/C in it. FLA of each of the three compressors was 32 amps. Lights dimming bad and VD was10 to 13 volts. Customer was not happy when we told him he has to live with it, cause it would be costly to try to correct it. I was thinking about an Isolation transformer, Any thougths? We meaning myself and the hvac installer.


Shoot first, apologize later.....maybe
#14935 10/04/03 07:54 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Member
Pinemarten,
Air Con units already have starting Cap's, as a matter of course, for both the fan and the compressor. [Linked Image]
Most compressors are split-phase anyway, as far as single phase ones go.
3 phase compressors are self-starting.
---
ElectricmanScott:
You wouldn't by any chance have a loose Main Neutral by any chance?, I've seen this happen before!. [Linked Image]
[Message edited to add further comment]

[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 10-04-2003).]

#14936 10/04/03 09:54 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 914
E
Member
A hard start kit is the way to go. I put one on for a customer the other day and it worked perfectly. Very easy to install, it just clips onto the existing start capacitor. The part number was SPP6 (I think) and the cost was $13 at Johnstone Supply.

#14937 10/04/03 11:04 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,527
B
Moderator
Others here have given good advice. Be cautious when 'finger pointing' that findings are based on a known-accurate {NIST-traceable} meter.

Regardless of the severity of perception of lamp flicker, the usual ANSI 'standard' acceptable range is typically 108/216-126/252 volts at the building service entrance. Utilities often use that value to determine whether it's a "your problem or ours" issue.

Some utilities are regulated by state PUCs to have somewhat tighter numbers. An example is §C of http://www.pge.com/customer_services/business/tariffs/doc/ER2.doc




[This message has been edited by Bjarney (edited 10-04-2003).]

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