Help! Is 105 volts on one side sufficient to run C/A during an electrical brownout?

[Bozita]

One side is running 119-120v. The browned out side is at 105-106v.

I don't want ot burn out any stuff.

I'm running an extension cord (thick one) from a 119v wall outlet to the frig. Food should be safe now.

I know this isn't the best forum in which to ask, but DU is kinda my home and an awful lot of really knowledgeable folks inhabit this place.

TIA.

[bananas]

1. Yes. nt

[deadmessengers]

2. self-delete - 220v is not 110...

and I don't know a damn thing about 220v appliances.

[Wilms]

3. What's a C/A?

And do you have an idea what's causing the brownout.

I'm assuming you are referring to a 220V service where one side is low.

[Bozita]

6. central air conditioner, and "yes" on the voltage

220v on one side, 105-6v on the other.

It's my local electric utility at fault. Neighbor three doors down reports similar readings on voltmeter.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. Pretty Sure You Shouldn't Have A Problem.

Wouldn't burn anything out anyway though. If there wasn't enough power available, it just simply wouldn't work right. Wouldn't harm it though.

[Tesha]

19. As you so often are, you are once again wrong.

Undervoltage is *FAMOUS* for causing motors to burn out
as they draw more current to compensate for the lacking
voltage.

Tesha

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

20. Nice Try But I Think You're Overdramatizing.

Sure, undervoltage can cause motors to burn out. But in the case of a regular window AC rated at 120 but being supplied only 105, I'm pretty sure that offset would not be enough to do any damage to the motor, especially given the fact that we're not talking long term.

[rwenos]

5. Should be Okay, But

Any electric motor running at a voltage lower than it is designed for might take damage. Also, if you have a brownout, the circuit has a problem, and you'll need to take care of it as soon as possible -- like within the next 24-48 hours.

You didn't say why you had a brownout on one circuit. Better check the fuse box. Check for overloads and any hot areas on the walls -- would indicate overloads. If the walls are hot anywhere, call an electrician right away.

[Bozita]

11. Utility has been called. Storms ran thru earlier. Major outages are higher priority.

Actually, my cable box seems to be the canary in the mine for me.

Everything in the house was running smoothly. TV was on. Poof. Pic and sound disappear. Nothing for a minute or so. Cable box lights OFF. Lights flash on (88:88) and cable box resets. TV recovers.

Now, I feel warm. Looked at the thermometer. Two degrees above the thermostat setting of 75.

Walked outside. A/C unit was not running but was making a humming noise.

Grabbed my voltmeter. Readings of 82 and 112v respectively.

Both readings have since improved, but I'm still wary.

[Canuckistanian]

7. Should be OK

Just keep an eye on your A/C and feel the cord or cable every once in a while to make sure it's not getting too hot.

Your breakers should kick out if it's drawing that much current (they're controlling the current, not the voltage).

[RC]

13. Not true. They control the voltage, which determines the current

through the circuit. There is no way to reduce the current at the source and maintain the voltage.
In a motor as the voltage goes down the current draw goes up as the moter tries to maintain its speed. That is what will burn it out.

[Canuckistanian]

15. Circuit breakers don't care about voltage, only current

That's how they're rated - in Amps. As soon as the current goes above the trip point, the breaker switch opens. They don't really 'control' anything.

And to a circuit breaker, the difference between 120VAC and 104VAC is negligible.

[RC]

16. Oops. I misread your post.

I read it as saying they could control the current, not the voltage as in a brown out.
We did say the same thing. :blush:

[Gregorian]

8. Oops. Already answered above.

Woops. 220 volts.

I deleted my reply. I was thinking 120 volt outlet.

[PSPS]

9. I had that happen once

It turned out that the power line drop to my house went through a tree, and one side had been scraped through from rubbing on a branch in the wind. I discovered this at 11 PM one night, yet the city's PUD crew had no trouble driving out the cherry-picker truck to fix it in about a half hour!

[Gregorian]

10. I've seen a hot lead make contact to the neutral and blow everything out in the house.

At the service entrance. A big flash as I was standing right there. I had just bought the house. Good timing, for me. Bad timing for him.

In fact I'm watching the tv from that. I was moving in. He was moving out. Smoke came out of everything. Computers, tv. Blew the heating system. I got a free tv out of it that needed a capacitor that was blown.

If it was my place, I'd shut everything down.

[rasputin1952]

12. The best advice so far...."shut everything down", but not

everything. It is fine to leave 120v items on, but I'd cut back on unnecessary items for the time being.

C/A is not "necessary", but it is certainly convenient. I'd make sure all 220v items were shut down at the Breaker Box until the second leg comes up. There might be a couple of problems w/120v items that are on the leg affected, and when power is restored top normal there could be a urge that could fry a lot of electronics that aren't protected. Since It is pretty hard to know exactly when the power company will charge up the leg, it is best to just shut stuff down until things are working properly.

220v appliances w/motors can be a real pain, as they are not at the 60 cycle level at times, and that can burn up a motor...:(

[heidler1]

14. I use to work in a power plant and after a power failure that lasts very long

the plant can't pick up the load so the voltage drops. Especially if it's at the supper peak load when the elec. kitchen stoves are on. Turn everything off so they can pick up the load easier and you won't damage any of the motors in those type of devices.

[blues90]

17. Not a good idea

Electric motors want to draw current and will work much harder at a low voltage and run hot , you may burn out the compressor and blower .

This is the main cause for the starters on cars to fail , they will draw what they can if the battery is low of bad and burn out prematurely .

[Edweird]

18. Undervoltage will destroy appliances and electronics.

Incandescent light bulbs will actually last longer, tho.

An electrical appliance draws a certain number of Watts. When the voltage drops, the amperage will increase to maintain the required wattage. The increased amperage overloads the circuitry and fries it. Anything under 100 volts should be watched.