Low voltage damage?

[waterboy]

We got our power back on Sunday pm but the voltage is so low that the central a/c, the televisions and the washer/dryer will not turn on. The lights are dim. Thank heavens the portable fans work.

How much damage is being done to appliances and a/c systems by running on this low voltage?

[sgrizzle]

Sounds to me like your power isn't fully restored. Do you have a voltmeter?

[waterboy]

No. It is strangely quiet through the neighborhood so I'm guessing everyone else is also low power. I suppose I should call PSO along with 70,000 others?

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

No. It is strangely quiet through the neighborhood so I'm guessing everyone else is also low power. I suppose I should call PSO along with 70,000 others?

Probably so. The customer number is lower than that currently so I doubt it will be that bad. I would go ahead and flip off the breaker for or unplug anything you aren't using just in case. I'm thinking you are short a phase right now so that is why everything 220v isn't working and some of your 110v stuff (the TV).

[waterboy]

Thanks. I am just ecstatic that I may not have to replace my a/c unit. Lightning struck a tree up the street which crashed into the power pole which threw live wires into their swimming pool and started their kitchen appliances smoking. The the humm of transformers began to fill the air. Apparently they were lucky as I hear stories filtering in about the rest of the city. With no TV or dependable radio its hard to tell. That was a serious wind.

[grahambino]

it happened to me when power was restored in december.

i had lights, but no major appliances (hot water, oven, microwave, heater etc) would work.

power was restored to my area sat night.  they didnt fix the voltage problem, that my building was having until monday night.  when every other building my complex had heat, you talk about a slap in the face.

so good luck with that.

[spincycle]

I hate to be a squeaky wheel, but keep on the butts of PSO-AEP. I have never heard of such horrible customer service as these folks. I feel like I live in a third world country when it comes to our electric company.  But we just roll over and say, yes, go ahead and increase our rates even though service stinks!!!

[grahambino]

quote:Originally posted by spincycle

I hate to be a squeaky wheel, but keep on the butts of PSO-AEP. I have never heard of such horrible customer service as these folks. I feel like I live in a third world country when it comes to our electric company.  But we just roll over and say, yes, go ahead and increase our rates even though service stinks!!!

i am absolutely livid over this.

its been 26 hours now.  i'm sure it will be another sweaty night on the couch tonight.  i can't wait.

I'm thinking its time to invest in AEP and get .41 a share out of these a**holes to help offset the cost of two refrigerators worth of spoiled food, alone.  

there is absolutely no incentive for this company to perform.  none.  something has to give.  

[jne]

I'm in the dark at my place.  Its a strange smattering that seems to have power in the neighborhood.  I've looked around trying to find lines down, but the only thing that looks to be out of place is the duct tape, tin foil and chewing gum.  Is that normal?

[sgrizzle]

Carnac says "Power will be almost fully restored by midnight."



(Just a guess, I don't know for sure)

[waterboy]

I called their 1-888 number and followed the computer prompts to leave a pre-selected message for them. An hour later my neighbor managed to snag a human somewhere in Ohio. Probably a newbie. Anyway, she seemed quite surprised and noted no one had called to register problems with service in this area. She didn't even know their had been a storm in this area.

I don't fault the local field workers. Its dangerous, physical work. However, the office workers and digital phone system don't give off an aura of "service with a smile".

[Conan71]

They have still not completed trimming the right of way they they started several months ago.  

They came down the Gary Pl. side of the ROW but have never done the Harvard side trees.  My neighbor has some limbs laying precariously on my power feed to the house and on top of my garage.  

I got some flickers Saturday and realize I'm darn lucky to have not lost power.  At least I finally got my generator back from my buddy during the Dec. outage in case I lose power again.  Not enough amps for my A/C but at least I can have light and keep food from spoiling.

Sorry to hear about everyone elses's trouble.

[sauerkraut]

Yes low voltage can hurt stuff like motors, but it won't harm light bulbs. I don't know about things like todays TV sets and computers. I use "surge protectors" on all my gear but I don't thenk they help with voltage too low.

[patric]

quote:Originally posted by sauerkraut

Yes low voltage can hurt stuff like motors, but it won't harm light bulbs. I don't know about things like todays TV sets and computers. I use "surge protectors" on all my gear but I don't thenk they help with voltage too low.

Undervoltage can result in an appliance drawing more current to sustain the work load (see Ohms Law) and should blow fuses or pop breakers before damage is done, but it's not a guarantee.

Undervoltage and "stalls" kill compressor motors like crazy.  Surge suppressors are only meant to dampen spikes in the power that are often *caused* by things like motors stalling (when the motors magnetic field collapses, that energy "backwashes" through the house wiring in the form of a spike) but that's not the only source (utility company switching is another, as is lightning).  
Surge supressors dont protect from near- or direct lightning strikes, so a habit of unplugging your valuables should be your routine when you hear thunder.  Dont forget to unplug the phone line from your sensitive electronics, too.

[Steve]

Just some thoughts here...

My neighborhood, Lortondale, was built in the early 1950s as the first U.S. subdivision with all centrally air-conditioned homes.  Our houses were originally wired with standard current for 110 volt supply, and "3-phase" supply for the air conditioning.  I have a standard circuit breaker box for normal supply, and an additional 3-fuse box which powers my central A/C compressor.  My house is still wired this way.  There have been 2-3 times in the past 22 years when the "3-phase" portion of my power supply has gone out; I still have lights, but no A/C, and in every case it has been a tripped fuse on the power pole that supplies my house.  A problem for PSO to fix and no fault of my house wiring or appliances.  Luckily, I have never had a TV/computer/appliance damaged by surges or power failures.