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: 627
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 # 5.
#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.
Damn, I haven't seen those formulas in a long time.
#6. To: echo5sierra, Lod (#5)
It is the different reactances that will cause the clocks to speed up and/or slow down. However, depending upon how large the variances are it could also cause IC chips to short out.
deleted
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,”
#5. To: F.A. Hayek Fan (#2)
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.
Replies to Comment # 5.
#13. To: echo5sierra (#5)
End Trace Mode for Comment # 5.