eskom voltage to high

[electrofreeze]

since the last load shedding we and lots of neighbors have lost quite a few electrical appliances,tv and computer power supplies and a lot of light bulbs
after investigating the problem we found out that the power is now running at 240 volts and goes up as high as 250 after hours
most new appliances are rated at 220-240 but can not run for long period at 240 and over
we contacted the municipal electrical people and according to them they can go as high as 260v
so if you find that you have problems with your electrical appliances and gate motors now running 5 times faster check your volts
it is also possible that with the higher voltage the electricity meters will run faster and record more units

 

[Sinbad]

250V isn't going to make your gate motor run 6x faster.

 

[Rickster]

Wait...when last did you have loadshedding?

 

[Napalm2880]

250V isn't going to make your gate motor run 6x faster.

Only "5 times faster" according to OP.

 

[AntennaMan]

I think OP should change is name to "freeze", as the ëlectro"part is a misnomer.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Thats quite amusing, an extra 10v and now the gate run 5 times faster

 

[Unhappy1]

Thats quite amusing, an extra 10v and now the gate run 5 times faster

NOS for the gate motor

 

[ToxicBunny]

NOS for the gate motor

I reckon I can find something that can juice an extra 10v into my motor constantly... be nice to have a 4.5m gate open in about 2 seconds.

 

[Unhappy1]

I reckon I can find something that can juice an extra 10v into my motor constantly... be nice to have a 4.5m gate open in about 2 seconds.

Just be careful, i hear the wheels cant handle that speed off the mark, you will have to look at modding those too.

 

[gregmcc]

Lol. If anything it should make your meters run slower.

Higher voltage means less current used.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Just be careful, i hear the wheels cant handle that speed off the mark, you will have to look at modding those too.

Wheels are cheap.. I'll just keep spares handy...

 

[electrofreeze]

the point here is that the high voltage are damaging home appliances

 

[ToxicBunny]

the point here is that the high voltage are damaging home appliances

250v is not going to seriously harm home appliances.

 

[spiff]

won't surge protectors help?

 

[wetkit]

Eskom is allowed +- 10% up or down from 230V.
The same also applies to your local power supplier.
If that is your local muni, you have to take it up with them.

I was also wondering why my beers is so cold these days, so it must be the fridge running faster now.
And yes, also notice my meter is running much faster now too.
Bloody agents!!!

 

[reactor_sa]

250V is fine

 

[Tacet]

The voltage can and will always fluctuate. The frequency is much more important and much more stable.

 

[agentrfr]

Bloody agents!!!

Oi! ................

@OP

230V AC peaks at 325V each half cycle. Having an RMS of 240V is not a big difference, and most if not all appliances are manufactured with bucking circuitry that are rated at least 15% over specced input voltages (so 240V in places like 'murica if you center tap the phases, or even 250V in some areas in the UK) which is a design for peak voltage of 406V for 50Hz devices manufactured in China/India.

No, OP, your devices are fine for up to 250V RMS minimum, and up to 287.5V RMS within reasonable tolerance. Your devices wont blow receiving 240V RMS, only surges will hurt you. This means something is spiking outside of your house or inside of your house, generating some back EMF. Have you checked your pool motor isn't being wonky and switching on and off lots?

 

[Unhappy1]

won't surge protectors help?

Not for 250v no, thresholds are higher than that.

 

[AntennaMan]

The real problems start when cable thieves steal the neutral line on the 3 phase power. Now that is a true source of fun.