[Jamie]

"Jamie"




** SMPS are not the only products that can misbehave when the AC supply
voltage is very low.

I have come across transistor amplifiers (a Peavey bass guitar amp) that
will blow their AC fuse if slowly brought up on a Variac. This happens at
about 50% of rated AC voltage.

A Carver C-500 stereo power amp, I tested on the bench just recently,
cannot control its output voltage until the AC supply is at least 25% of
normal. When the AC supply is between 20 - 24 % of rated, both channels
output a DC voltage ( plus hum) of 20 volts into the load.

The Carver amp itself is not harmed by this, but any connected speakers (
read expensive hi-fi woofers ) could be expected to go up in smoke.

The same amp makes only a tiny " plop " noise when switched on the normal
way and a small "click" after being switched off. The DC offset at the
output was normally under +/-10 mV.

BTW:

Industry design standards that cover the entire electronics manufacturing
industry, world wide, DO NOT EXIST.

The Chinese have simply never heard of them......



...... Phil

Yes, I agree there, I have seen damaged voice coils from voltage
drop outs when the coils were already hot from max operation.

Many designs do not allow for this problem.

That reminds me.
I have 2 Carvin amps that do 800 Watts RMS (bridged)each, that was
nicely given to me in working order. Now what to do with them

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

That reminds me.
I have 2 Carvin amps that do 800 Watts RMS (bridged)each, that was
nicely given to me in working order. Now what to do with them

They make nice doorstops.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Jamie]

They make nice doorstops.

Hmm, well I guess. they're heavy enough!

I thought some young kid would come along and want
something to knock out his house windows with.

 

[[email protected]]

I have read most of this thread in hopes of confirming my supposition
regarding s electrical problem with our cooking range. Seems like
most everyone here is much smarter than me. Please allow me to ask
this stupid question. The indications are that the timer/controler/
clock/ on the range goes into intermittent error mode after a rain
storm, but NOT LIGHTING. If there is a long period of no rain then it
works fine. Once there is rain, it goes back to intermittent error.
The error is anything from beeping, to no oven operations to timer
not working. We replaced the module with a new one and the same error
code showed up, in fact it was worse, luckily it was returnable. We
put the original module back in place and the error code disappeared
after a period of dry spells. My assumption is that the electrical
transformer or feed to the residence is not providing a constant
voltage. I assume the control module on the stove/range is voltage
sensitive. I started a search for voltage monitoring devices which
will record the voltage over a period of time, either digitally or
analog on a graph. So far, no luck in finding such a device.

The transformer is at ground level and supplies two homes. The feed
is underground to and from the transformer.
My questions are several:

1. Will low or high voltage cause the problem of a control module
intermittently showing error codes.
2. Where can I get an inexpensive monitoring device to record the
voltage over a period time.
3. Is is possible that the outside transformer is getting wet and
causing the problem?
4. Is it possible that the buried high voltage feed to the
transformer is fluctuating and can it be monitored?
4. What words can I use to tell the electric company they need to
verify the voltage to our house is constant over a period of time.

Thanks, Mike

 

[Rich Grise]

I have read most of this thread in hopes of confirming my supposition
regarding s electrical problem with our cooking range. Seems like most
everyone here is much smarter than me. Please allow me to ask this stupid
question. The indications are that the timer/controler/ clock/ on the
range goes into intermittent error mode after a rain storm, but NOT
LIGHTING. If there is a long period of no rain then it works fine. Once
there is rain, it goes back to intermittent error. The error is anything
from beeping, to no oven operations to timer not working. We replaced the
module with a new one and the same error code showed up, in fact it was
worse, luckily it was returnable. We put the original module back in
place and the error code disappeared after a period of dry spells. My
assumption is that the electrical transformer or feed to the residence is
not providing a constant voltage. I assume the control module on the
stove/range is voltage sensitive. I started a search for voltage
monitoring devices which will record the voltage over a period of time,
either digitally or analog on a graph. So far, no luck in finding such a
device.

The transformer is at ground level and supplies two homes. The feed is
underground to and from the transformer. My questions are several:

1. Will low or high voltage cause the problem of a control module
intermittently showing error codes.
2. Where can I get an inexpensive monitoring device to record the voltage
over a period time.
3. Is is possible that the outside transformer is getting wet and
causing the problem?
4. Is it possible that the buried high voltage feed to the transformer is
fluctuating and can it be monitored? 4. What words can I use to tell the
electric company they need to verify the voltage to our house is constant
over a period of time.

You shouldn't have to tell them much - essentially what you've told us
here. Say something like, "I get funny behavior in my equipment when it
rains - is there some kind of voltage monitor you could put here for
awhile to see if you're losing power somewhere? Am I in any danger?"

They don't like to electrocute their customers, and they like wasting
power even less, so they'll probably be there the same day.

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[default]

I have read most of this thread in hopes of confirming my supposition
regarding s electrical problem with our cooking range. Seems like
most everyone here is much smarter than me. Please allow me to ask
this stupid question. The indications are that the timer/controler/
clock/ on the range goes into intermittent error mode after a rain
storm, but NOT LIGHTING. If there is a long period of no rain then it
works fine. Once there is rain, it goes back to intermittent error.
The error is anything from beeping, to no oven operations to timer
not working. We replaced the module with a new one and the same error
code showed up, in fact it was worse, luckily it was returnable. We
put the original module back in place and the error code disappeared
after a period of dry spells. My assumption is that the electrical
transformer or feed to the residence is not providing a constant
voltage. I assume the control module on the stove/range is voltage
sensitive. I started a search for voltage monitoring devices which
will record the voltage over a period of time, either digitally or
analog on a graph. So far, no luck in finding such a device.

The transformer is at ground level and supplies two homes. The feed
is underground to and from the transformer.
My questions are several:

1. Will low or high voltage cause the problem of a control module
intermittently showing error codes.
2. Where can I get an inexpensive monitoring device to record the
voltage over a period time.
3. Is is possible that the outside transformer is getting wet and
causing the problem?
4. Is it possible that the buried high voltage feed to the
transformer is fluctuating and can it be monitored?
4. What words can I use to tell the electric company they need to
verify the voltage to our house is constant over a period of time.

Thanks, Mike

Anything is possible. No other malfunctions? When it rains?

I have found my electric company is more than willing to come out and
deal with complaints. Never had any myself, but a few neighbors did
and with my advice did call the company. In both cases they did solve
a problem - transformer ground missing causing buzzing in a stereo,
and transformer lightning arrestor laying on the ground in pieces.

Try them first. You shouldn't need to spend a lot of time on it. It
could still be something in your house, so keep an open mind.

Service entrance getting rain into the meter box, loose connection on
the circuit breaker to the range . . . AFTER a rain event (does that
imply that it takes some time? - like water trickling down into
something?) Coincidence?

Lotta weird stuff can happen when 120 VAC comes into contact with wet
wood - so keep an open mind. AND I'd check the ground on the range to
make sure it does ground. If it is a three wire range - ground shares
current with 120 VAC gizmos like lights and controllers - a newer
(code) 4 wire range has a dedicated ground and not a neutral/ground
combination. Either arrangement can cause problems.

 

[Jamie]

I have read most of this thread in hopes of confirming my supposition
regarding s electrical problem with our cooking range. Seems like
most everyone here is much smarter than me. Please allow me to ask
this stupid question. The indications are that the timer/controler/
clock/ on the range goes into intermittent error mode after a rain
storm, but NOT LIGHTING. If there is a long period of no rain then it
works fine. Once there is rain, it goes back to intermittent error.
The error is anything from beeping, to no oven operations to timer
not working. We replaced the module with a new one and the same error
code showed up, in fact it was worse, luckily it was returnable. We
put the original module back in place and the error code disappeared
after a period of dry spells. My assumption is that the electrical
transformer or feed to the residence is not providing a constant
voltage. I assume the control module on the stove/range is voltage
sensitive. I started a search for voltage monitoring devices which
will record the voltage over a period of time, either digitally or
analog on a graph. So far, no luck in finding such a device.

The transformer is at ground level and supplies two homes. The feed
is underground to and from the transformer.
My questions are several:

1. Will low or high voltage cause the problem of a control module
intermittently showing error codes.
2. Where can I get an inexpensive monitoring device to record the
voltage over a period time.
3. Is is possible that the outside transformer is getting wet and
causing the problem?
4. Is it possible that the buried high voltage feed to the
transformer is fluctuating and can it be monitored?
4. What words can I use to tell the electric company they need to
verify the voltage to our house is constant over a period of time.

Thanks, Mike

You may think the transformer is at ground how ever, is your ground
directly connected to the poles service ground?
It sounds to me that you have a ground bonding connection problem
some where.