(Heads up)UK National grid looking to start lowering voltage.
- Thread starter jigger
- Start date
I’ve seen lots about this recently but conflicting info. What’s the reason for it changing?
To save firms money upgrading and maintaining the grid properly.
Its to create more capacity for renewables or something something
E: It's ok though, apparently it will only affect old or safety critical equipment...
E: E: aren't most things designed for EU voltages nowadays anyway?
E: It's ok though, apparently it will only affect old or safety critical equipment...
E: E: aren't most things designed for EU voltages nowadays anyway?
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There's more to it than just that, saying that they are dropping it to 207v is plain wrong. It's been proposed that the LV supply is lowered from 242v to around 230v, with the lowest acceptable to be reduced to 207v, which is unlikely to be seen on a regular basis.
Earlier this year our grid voltage exceeded 264v (max our solar system could read before shutting itself off) and our induction hob wouldn't work, next door neighbours had issues as well with various things.
Went on for a weekend, we moaned at the national grid who to be fair turned up on a bank holiday to measure it and it did get sorted out the next day.
Went on for a weekend, we moaned at the national grid who to be fair turned up on a bank holiday to measure it and it did get sorted out the next day.
It’s just plain maths. 207v is what some people could see. How regularly that happens is irrelevant as some kit will play up before that voltage and people need to be prepared for that. Well some people at least.
I remember reading in a Tom Clancy book - Red Storm Rising IIRC - that the Soviet Union experimented with doing something similar and the consequences were severe. Clancy was known for his research, if not his writing.
Do you really believe that? If they can get away with it surely they will do it.
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Ah ha.
After a quick read of something along those lines that the current standard allows form fluctuations between 216V and 253V as we normalised with Europe to 230v, us dropping from 240 and then upping from 220.
The lower 207 is just the bottom end of the new acceptable range rather than 216v.
I think? Don't know much about the stuff tbh.
People will need to get their sums right within the add breaks of the soaps that’s for dang sure. UPS and back system will need to be well tested along with switch gear and power distribution kit.
The biggest issue I see is our “13amp” plug and IEC13 lead which has been forced to become 10amps Max and are typically manufactured in China by the lowest bidder…
The biggest issue I see is our “13amp” plug and IEC13 lead which has been forced to become 10amps Max and are typically manufactured in China by the lowest bidder…
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TBH I think those pushing for this are aware of the issues and potential for disruption and failures this scheme will cause.
Seem to remember that book.
... but do they care if that can save them spending millions on infrastructure?
Who cares about people's breaking or malfunctioning stuff at home, they should go and buy new stuff! From same people who push for it of course...
The problem in our area is we are right on the edge of the upper of the current acceptable range.
We didn’t drop below 235v during the last 3 hour free energy session and I was pulling a sustained 18kw from the grid on my domestic supply as were most of my neighbours.
We didn’t drop below 235v during the last 3 hour free energy session and I was pulling a sustained 18kw from the grid on my domestic supply as were most of my neighbours.
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This is the similar crap they did when they increased ethenol content in petrol.
Our 2014 Focus has issues with the E10 fuel and randomly will stutter and cut out. It seemed like a choke or "from cold" issue but moving to the premium fuel, the issue hasn't occurred in nearly 2 years. Granted, it could be coincidence but I expect not.
Lowering the voltage will probably cause issues for some devices that will fail before their time or need replacing because they don't work properly anymore.
Our 2014 Focus has issues with the E10 fuel and randomly will stutter and cut out. It seemed like a choke or "from cold" issue but moving to the premium fuel, the issue hasn't occurred in nearly 2 years. Granted, it could be coincidence but I expect not.
Lowering the voltage will probably cause issues for some devices that will fail before their time or need replacing because they don't work properly anymore.
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Soldato
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Pretty much everything is designed for 230v, so 207 will be within a 10% tolerence. And this is very much a theoretical minimum. Most electronics now have switch mde supplies, which will deal with pretty much any voltage they're given.
Depends. Most stuff will be fine, apart from the issues mentioned and increased current demand. A 1000watt power supply could see a swing of 160 watts for example.
Which is fine in reality as we are talking about the absolute minimum.
Part of the reason they want to lower it slightly is because of renewables feeding in which naturally pushes up the voltage on the local grid. Starting from a lower base will lessen this effect.
For example, around my way, the local grid is regularly getting up to 248-250v when people are feeding in at peak sun/wind times. That also causes issues.
Part of the reason they want to lower it slightly is because of renewables feeding in which naturally pushes up the voltage on the local grid. Starting from a lower base will lessen this effect.
For example, around my way, the local grid is regularly getting up to 248-250v when people are feeding in at peak sun/wind times. That also causes issues.
Looking at some of my devices, they're running between 247.1V to 249.4V over the course of the last 12 months. I'm sure not every day will have been enough for solar or wind though.
It really depends on the PSU. Almost everything is switched mode these days.
E..g. Corsair generally rate their PSU @ 1000W with 100V - 240V input.