Author Topic: How Does Heat Wave/ Electric Cutback Affect Your System?  (Read 2988 times)

Offline James Edward

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How Does Heat Wave/ Electric Cutback Affect Your System?
« on: August 14, 2016, 01:49:17 PM »
This may be Long Island / "Big City" specific... The heat wave of the last four days has caused my electric company to cut back; the meter on my power conditioner has been reading 112-114 volts during the day.
I would have expected a lack of bass, but the bass seems fine; maybe slightly loose?
What I notice, though, is a slight hardening of the treble. Grainy, perhaps?
Anyone else notice this or some other phenomenon related to lowered voltage?
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Offline BobM

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Re: How Does Heat Wave/ Electric Cutback Affect Your System?
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2016, 05:36:38 AM »
My AC unit has a breaker on the side of it that keeps blowing when the voltage gets low. I just ordered a replacement capacitor because it is likely that the initial surge on start-up is what is causing it to blow.

But I have no system issues, then again, I'm spending more time in the pool than in front of the stereo.
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Offline Emil

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Re: How Does Heat Wave/ Electric Cutback Affect Your System?
« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2016, 10:27:03 AM »
James

I've experienced something similar but cannot really put my finger on it.
What I can tell you is that the sound just seems to be "off". Coincides with each time the breaker trips on Bob's AC unit. Hope he fixes it soon.







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Offline tmazz

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Re: How Does Heat Wave/ Electric Cutback Affect Your System?
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2016, 06:05:32 PM »
I don't think what you are hearing is due to the voltage cutback. Any power supply work its salt has enough voltage regulation to maintain it's output voltage through a 6% drop in input voltage, which is all you are seeing.

IMO the more likely culprit is what is causing the power company to lower the voltage in the first place and that is the fact that everybody and his brother is running their air conditioning at full tilt. Refrigeration units are notoriously noisy and push all kinds of noise back into the power grid. I would think all the extra trash riding on your commercial power is much more likely the cause of the grain and hardness than the fact that your voltage is being lowered by what is really a rather small amount.

BTW, I just looked at my AC voltage and it is only down 1 volt, to 119, but today has not been as hot as the past few and I really should look at it during the day, when the commercial and industrial load is on the grid.
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Offline rollo

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Re: How Does Heat Wave/ Electric Cutback Affect Your System?
« Reply #4 on: August 13, 2017, 10:36:05 AM »
 IT SUCKS until after 11PM even with my conditioning. Voltage is as voltage does.

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