AC Line Voltages, Then and Now

[Glen Zook]

The new "target" line voltage for most electric
utility companies is 125 VAC +/- 2 volts.  In this
area, especially during warm weather, TXU runs right
at 127 volts.  That is to be able to supply additional
power to run the air conditioning.

I know that TXU was already running this voltage when
I went to work for them in April of 1989 and is still
running that voltage today.

You definitely want to purchase 130 volt light bulbs
from home improvement centers rather than the 120 volt
bulbs that are sold in grocery stores.  The 130 volt
bulbs will last on average at least 10 times longer
than the 120 volt bulbs.

As for a "bucking" transformer:  I don't use one on
any of my equipment and haven't had any problems. 
However, there are those who swear by dropping the
input voltage and it shouldn't hurt anything and may
help somewhat, especially with some equipment.

Now many of the units made during the 1930s and 1940s
had input voltage specifications of like 100 volts to
130 volts because the line voltage ran all over the
place during that period of time.  It wasn't until
well into the late 1950s and in some area even the
late 1960s that there was any sense of a steady power
line voltage.  Some areas still have voltages that
vary all over the place.

Glen, K9STH


--- digital-conjurers at ADELPHIA.NET wrote:

2. Could a "step-down" (there are many designs) to 115
VAC cool things off?
 
...and, in the long run, is it worth it?










Glen, K9STH

Web sites

http://home.comcast.net/~k9sth
http://home.comcast.net/~zcomco

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