Grid fluctuations [RE-wrenches]

Jeff Irish jeff at hvce.com
Thu Jun 28 15:38:17 PDT 2007


The utility is required by law to operate within the ANSI-A range of +/- 5%
of nominal, which means a maximum of 132 vac per phase, "except for short
periods".  This is measured at their meter with no loads or PV operating.
Household loads will of course drag the voltage down and turning on a PV
inverter will push it up as the inverter pushes current into the grid.  If
you are measuring above 132 vac repeatedly at no load and they are not
working on the lines, switching transformers or capacitor banks or doing
something extraordinary, then they are in violation.  What I've found works
is sending them an email or letter putting it on record that they are
operating outside the ANSI-A range (I use a calibrated Fluke).  Or threaten
to notify the state PUC. This has always brought a quick response for us.
Operating above 132 vac is hard on all loads; lamps, motors, etc. and that's
why the rule exists.

By the way, they should never be above 10% which is the ANSI-B upper limit.

Jeff Irish

-----Original Message-----
From: William Miller [mailto:wrmiller at charter.net] 
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 5:48 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: Grid fluctuations [RE-wrenches]


Drake:

The utility should install a recording voltmeter temporarily at your
request.

William Miller


At 04:12 PM 6/28/2007, you wrote:

>Hi Wrenches,
>
>We have a Sunny Boy that keeps shutting down for periods, then 
>restarting.  We have measured grid voltage of 137 VAC per phase, and think 
>that is the problem.  The utility company is claiming that the grid is
fine.
>
>Does anyone know where we can get a recording voltmeter to put on the 
>grid.  There is no Internet access at the location.  We just want to be 
>able to record the voltage over time.  We suspect that their may be short 
>term spikes, which we would like to catch.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Drake
>
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