Getting rid of our present electrical system

[robbietan]

Now we both know that is a bit of a white lie. Brussels decreed the European “declared voltage” was to be 230V, each country changed their tolerance to -6% +10%.

Basically, nothing changed. UKPN are still fitting 433/250V transformers.

In my neck of the woods, it was 220V. Until the IEC made it 230V (but ours is still L-L).

Having "110V" in homes was a status symbol back then. when electronics became widespread, the "110V" supply damaged these appliances. since the "110V" is pairing a line from the utility with an isolated ground connected to a 2 foot (0.61 meter) metal pole someone buried somewhere.

 

[mbrooke]

In my neck of the woods, it was 220V. Until the IEC made it 230V (but ours is still L-L).

Having "110V" in homes was a status symbol back then. when electronics became widespread, the "110V" supply damaged these appliances. since the "110V" is pairing a line from the utility with an isolated ground connected to a 2 foot (0.61 meter) metal pole someone buried somewhere.

Didn't people use this method to also steel electricity?

 

[Tony S]

In my neck of the woods, it was 220V. Until the IEC made it 230V (but ours is still L-L).

Having "110V" in homes was a status symbol back then. when electronics became widespread, the "110V" supply damaged these appliances. since the "110V" is pairing a line from the utility with an isolated ground connected to a 2 foot (0.61 meter) metal pole someone buried somewhere.

Should have used longer rods.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg6G5VUSsWA

Out of interest where were you based at the time? The only countries I can think of using 220V are Belgium and Switzerland were it was 220/380V.

 

[mbrooke]

Should have used longer rods.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg6G5VUSsWA

Out of interest where were you based at the time? The only countries I can think of using 220V are Belgium and Switzerland were it was 220/380V.

Maybe not what rob has in mind, but some older networks in Belgium were 127/220Y. Stove wiring instructions still show it for 220 volts between actives:

 

[Tony S]

No where in that list is there mention of 127/220V

 

[mbrooke]

No where in that list is there mention of 127/220V

Technically 230, due to harmonization. Here is how it was derived, TT network:

Metering outfit:

My understanding is that it was the same for Y grounded secondaries, meaning that if you took line 2 and connected a load across that and earth, it would not read on the KWH meter.

 

[DBoone]

A lot of people don't respect 120 volts. This is because they have been shocked by things supplied by a 120 circuit or at least a 120 to ground circuit, and survived, usually with little noticeable damages.

If most common voltages here were 240 or more to ground I think there would be more respect to the dangers.

277 to ground is a fairly common voltage and does get more respect to the dangers then 120 does. It is not as common at our homes and many smaller businesses though.

Can't tell you how many times I have heard "it is only 110".

Can't tell you how many times I have heard that "220 really hurts" even though most of those incidents were likely only 120 to ground incidents and they just don't realize what it was they were dealing with when they got shocked.

Also heard many stories of how getting shocked from an open neutral is the worst, thing is there is no more then 120 volts involved a lot of the time, I think it is the fact they got hit by something they didn't expect to be "live" really plays a mind game on you to some extent.

Agree with you on the "110", "220" comments from others.

Drives me nuts hearing people say 110 and 220. And when someone mentions getting a shock from "220" I want to tell them they more than likely just touched one leg of it.

Oh well, I'm sure I drive others crazy with my quirks

 

[Galt]

Take a transformer - they bond the housing to the primary grounded conductor so that if there is a fault in the transformer it has a low resistance path to help facilitate overcurrent protection.

They also do the same thing for the secondary if it is to be a grounded system. That leaves both tied together. Not using the primary neutral for current carrying purposed would be a potential solution to get rid of voltage rise on the MGN. Don't count on seeing that happening anytime soon.

They put a sign on the pole warning that primary and secondary neutrals are isolated. I think there is a device allows lightning strikes or high voltages to pass but normally blocks current flow. I also think they put rods some distance apart out at the yard pole.

Not that long ago there was still some steel wire used on our grids farms on the end of very long roads would have very high neutral voltages. There were in effect two loads in series whatever you were running and that long steel wire.