Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!pyramid!gould9!ncr-sd!hp-sdd!hplabs!tektronix!tekig5!tekigm!tekigm2!timothym From: timothym@tekigm2.UUCP Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.sci Subject: Re: lightbulbs Message-ID: <699@tekigm2.UUCP> Date: Thu, 22-May-86 15:40:27 EDT Article-I.D.: tekigm2.699 Posted: Thu May 22 15:40:27 1986 Date-Received: Sun, 25-May-86 12:29:02 EDT References: <446@hropus.UUCP> <5436@alice.uUCp> <1039@kitty.UUCP> <2214@cae780.UUCP> Reply-To: timothym@tekigm2.UUCP (Timothy D Margeson) Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR. Lines: 49 Xref: watmath net.consumers:5339 net.sci:930 Hi, About lightbulbs - Has anyone else besides me measured their line voltage that comes into their house? I measured mine after several of my lights blew, were replaced then blew again in what seemed an abnormally short period of time. My measurment turned up a nominal voltage of 127.5 volts RMS (with a true RMS DVM made by Beckman). I called the power company, Portland General Electric, and I got the reponse "This is the normal voltage we set the lines to, to avoid the chance of brown-outs in the winter time." I just had to ask myself if PGE's motives were more pocketbook oriented. Quick calculations say that power usage will increase as the square of the voltage. What this means is that a lamp rated at 120 volts (when a common line voltage used to be 117 volts RMS) is being run at 127 volts, thereby reducing its life expectantcy to approximately 65 to 76 percent of normal (That's right folks, a 5 percent increase in lamp voltage results in 20 percent increase in light out put and a 30 percent decrease in lamp life). In lamps, the voltage increase only amounts to about a 2 to 4 percent increase in current draw, but this increase combined with refridgerators, stoves, Tv's, and most other appliances, amounts to a * VERY * large increase in overall use of electricity. In general, a 5 percent increase in current, with a 5 percent increase in line voltage will result in a 10 percent increase of wattage. In simple terms: A lamp running at 120 volts, 1.00 amps = 120 watts A lamp running at 127 volts, 1.05 amps = 133 watts OR A 10.8 PERCENT INCREASE IN POWER USAGE ! Not a bad way at all for the utility companies to bolster a shrinking consumer power usage market. And 99 percent of the people out there (you), are not even aware that you've been had. I tried to get PGE to lower the line back to 117 volts, but they refused to do so because I was also tied to four other houses. When I mentioned the problem to my neighbors, they all were totally unknowlegeable about AC theory and they refused to complain along with me, although one did complain about higher than normal electric bills. The moral - you can't fight PGE ! Oh well, any comments or suggestions are more than welcome. -- Tim Margeson (206)253-5240 tektronix!tekigm2!timothym @@ 'Who said that?' PO Box 3500 d/s C1-937 Vancouver, WA. 98665