Overvoltage

[Deleted User]

Atmospheric pollution and sewage outfalls are also a statutory matter, and they're also routinely violated if the alternative is deemed too expensive and/or politically unacceptable.

The costs of not monitoring are repair to any consequential damage.

Making an issue out of the kettle? You raised the subject, I just answered your point.

Changing the tap is cheap, quick and easy, but it's only an option if it doesn't put someone else at too low a voltage. In that case the fix is a lot more expensive.

[Deleted User]

Jack.

I couldn't give a whatsit about sewage outfalls etc etc, I'm talking about this statutory issue but I suspect if such outfalls were causing an issue to me then I would and no amount of assurances that it's only marginally in excess would satisfy me or any reasonable person.

Monitoring. .....AT THE TIME is what I said.

Anyway, I'm finished here and all I can say is that I'm unlikely to ever use this forum again. Most comments to me have either been pointless or argumentative just for the sake of it which seems typical of so many forums. A few have been constructive and helpful which is what I was after and to those people my sincere thanks. The person who said 'statutory' answered the matter with that one word.

Bye all.

JC_Derby

Deleted_User wrote: »

Morning. Well as I said the issue arose as a result of the failed UPS which made me check voltages. I am waiting to hear back from the company, UPN, to see what their action if any has been. Voltages still seem to exceed the 253volts at times but not by as much as before. So yes the company appear to be concerned but here looking for guidance on the statutory aspects some people appear to be unconcerned. Interesting in the piece you have kindly sent is the section about monitoring as my understanding both from research and the engineer who arrived is that they don't routinely monitor. If that's true in this day and age well I am surprised.

Monitoring on the HV networks yes. Monitoring on the LV networks no.
why? cost.

[Deleted User]

As a belated follow up to this matter this is how it has been resolved.

The electrical supply network was indeed checked as a result of my reports voltages were found to be consistently outside of statutory limits. Actually other areas beyond my village were also found to have excessively high voltages.

So this summer works were carried out to lower the voltages in the area and as a result my previous 255 volts to 260 volts is right now 231volts.

So despite comments here that this was nothing of concern the network provider thought otherwise. I would also add that the network provider was extremely helpful and informative during the course of the investigations. Finally the very helpful comment about statutory limits was the key to all this and I thank the contributor who mentioned this.

I would also add that I received full recompense for my damaged equipment.

So it just goes to show that regretfully some of the know it alls here on this forum do not in fact know it all.

I thank those who provided constructive replies and I would suggest that a couple get some manners. They know who they are.

Cheers

[Deleted User]

I've just come upon this thread. Well done lad. Glad you got it sorted.

I was going to mention with higher voltage comes higher energy consumption, and reduced lifespan, oh wait, i just did


By the way, you're perception of these forums is akin to my own.

[Deleted User]

Hi Paul

You're very kind, thank you.

If you read through the entire thread I fully accept what people are saying when 260v is only 7v above the statutory maximum but if you have the attitude that 7v is ok, when is it not ok? That's what the 230volt plus 10% minus 6% is all about ie 253v max 216.2v minimum.

And yes my equipment being designed for UK voltages should have been perfectly ok at 260v but whatever happened that particular night wrecked the kit and then immediately afterwards to be able to prove that the UK statutory maximums were being exceeded was to any reasonable person too much of a coincidence.

Having been involved in the installation of equipment to lower voltages in a major office block some years back I recall that amongst all the 'good reasons' for it was the fact that the life of components, equipment and lighting would be greatly extended. The reason is simple, it's heating that reduces the life of equipment and so by reducing the voltage, you reduce the heating and extend the life. And indeed that is exactly what happened when after a year we analysed the results of things like lighting maintenance. It was down by something like 50%.

Yes it's sad about these forums.

Cheers and thanks.

[Deleted User]

Afternoon

I have or rather had a APC device.

Like you I also have an old Belkin one.

My new replacement APC device also regulates the voltage from what I understand.

It's interesting what you say because your comment reminds me that years back I used to run my old server from the Belkin device and it too would shut itself down and report very high voltages, above 276v is a figure that comes to mind. I can remember being woken always in the middle of the night by the alarm it generated. On checking the voltage all would be fine and I would restart my system and I always assumed that these were short term spikes for want of a better term.

The old Belkin device had a serial connection for shutting down the server hence why it was replaced when the server was replaced. It still does the job though and gives me lighting during power cuts...which used to puzzle the neighbours as to why I had lights and nobody else did.

JC_Derby

Deleted_User wrote: »

. Interesting in the piece you have kindly sent is the section about monitoring as my understanding both from research and the engineer who arrived is that they don't routinely monitor. If that's true in this day and age well I am surprised.

I think it was me that first mentioned statutory limits, but I think you roughly new the upper limit was 253 at low voltage anyway.

Regarding the piece I quoted above. DNo’s don’t generally monitor the voltage outputs on low voltage networks, But they certainly do on higher voltages. By the sounds of the issue you And neighbouring villages had, this was most likely an issue at higher voltage 33kv plus...or as stated elsewhere an issue with the transformer between that higher voltage.

I’d also concur that there are a lot of knowitalls on this forum, pretty much like any other. Sadly it can make it difficult for people to pick the wheat from the chaff and I also reckon the thing with knowitalls is they don’t listen...

Glad that the outcome is good and as was stated that the DNO does listen and accept responsibility when it should do.

[Deleted User]

Evening

I understand the problem actually was at the domestic voltage level and not at the higher 11kV level and that tapping points needed to be changed at local transformers. That was not a simple matter because all users have to be warned in advance by letter and that in itself is time consuming and expensive because to ensure everyone is told they deliver such letters themselves and do not rely on the post. The idea being if any complaints arise then they will have exact details of when and where the letter was delivered. The process is very thorough and well thought out.

I have to say that in this day and age given the relative cheapness of technology I find it strange that the 230v circuits are not monitored. Over the years I have had installed numerous alarm systems for remote plant rooms and boiler houses etc using a simple off the shelf GSM boxes. However I suppose that if generally the number of problems are small then indeed you couldn't justify the costs.

The network provider was excellent. They kept me informed and discussed the process. More importantly they did not dismiss me and I was really impressed throughout. In fact I found it very interesting.

A comment was made about the problems caused by solar PV feeding into the network which I had never considered.

To be fair I think what helped me was that I am in the construction business myself and own fairly expensive pieces of test equipment so my voltage monitor wasn't a £10 piece of kit off ebay. Nevertheless they initially attended with the hour when I telephoned them and this was before they were aware of the kit I used.

All in all very satisfied but disappointed by this forum. Many people would have been put off by some of the comments I received earlier on.

But thank you for your help and coming back today. Much appreciated.