See other Science/Tech Articles
Title: It hertz when you do that – power grid to stop regulating 60 Hz frequency
Source:
Watts Up With That?
URL Source: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/06/ ... op-regulating-60-hz-frequency/
Published: Jun 27, 2011
Author: Anthony Watts
Post Date: 2011-06-27 17:38:08 by farmfriend
Ping List: *Agriculture-Environment* Subscribe to *Agriculture-Environment*
Keywords: None
Views: 671
Comments: 28
Posted on June 25, 2011 by Anthony Watts “Experiment” on the US power grid will change the way some clocks and other equipment function. Story submitted by Joe Ryan The AP has released an “exclusive” story concerning the nationwide “experiment” that will be conducted on the US power grid. The experiment will relieve the power providers from the duty of regulating the frequency of power on the line. Normally the power stations condition their power to a frequency of 60 cycles a second, a frequency that many old clocks use to maintain their time. With the new standard, or lack of standard, these clocks will stop keeping time properly. But the problem is more than that. First, we have this gem from Joe McLelland who heads the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (from AP article): “Is anyone using the grid to keep track of time?” McClelland said. “Let’s see if anyone complains if we eliminate it.” … forgive me for not getting warm fuzzies from this. Likewise, Demetrios Matsakis, head of the time service department at the U.S. Naval Observatory, had this to say (AP Article again): “A lot of people are going to have things break and they’re not going to know why,” So, we have what appears to be an untested, for the hell of it, “experimental” major change to the US electrical grid coming in a few weeks and those in charge aren’t really sure how it will work or if it may break something? Not only is this what a LAB is for, but it is also something that the Federal Government should be TELLING people about in advance, and not in an AP “exclusive” press release.
It hertz when you do that – power grid to stop regulating 60 Hz frequency
Subscribe to *Agriculture-Environment*
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 12.
#2. To: farmfriend (#0)
Considering that capacitive reactance (Xc = 1/2pieFC), inductive reactance (Xl = 2pieFL), and impedance (Z = square root of resistance squared plus Xl squared) are all directly or indirectly proportional to frequency, I imagine all sorts of shit is going to break that has nothing to do with time.
how many products are made these days with universal motors that run on DC to 100+ hertz? of course my sewing machines from the fifties and early sixties have such motors and unaffected by strays in the power frequency. the problem lies with those products using induction motors which is just about everything these days due to the low cost of manufacturing them. keeping time is the least of my worries, lets face it time is relative.
#24. To: IRTorqued (#12)
I have an old deep-freeze from the mid-Fifties. Will this harm the old appliances like that? Or is it the newer stuff that won't work so well? Don't the old CRT televisions require a synchronized 59.99Hz signal to redraw their fields/frames? I always thought that it was required for them. So will this break them (assuming they are connected to a digital tuner converter box)? What about if you connect a VCR or a DVD to a CRT TV?
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest“A lot of people are going to have things break and they’re not going to know why,”
#12. To: F.A. Hayek Fan (#2)
Replies to Comment # 12. how many products are made these days with universal motors that run on DC to 100+ hertz? of course my sewing machines from the fifties and early sixties have such motors and unaffected by strays in the power frequency. the problem lies with those products using induction motors which is just about everything these days due to the low cost of manufacturing them. keeping time is the least of my worries, lets face it time is relative.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 12.