06-12-2009, 04:33 PM
[quote][i]Originally posted by ric
I've heard there may also be issues with voltage loss over a long power line.
The bigger your current draw (turn on microwave, or elect water heater) you get a voltage drop due to the resistance of the wire.
Voltage = Current x Resistance, given a fixed Resistance the bigger the Current the more voltage drop. The trick to minimizing the line loss is to run your lines as far as possible with the HELCO transmission voltage (typically 13,500 volts or 13.5 kilovolts) and have your step down transformer near your house. Transformer option: on a pole overhead your place, or my preference would be to have one of those green transformer boxes (about the size of a pickup truck tool box) near the garage and run the short distance to the house underground. You may have to pay for the transformer (mainland you do, so I don't know about a "shared" transformer that "may" be provided at the street) I seem to remember hearing transformers running at about $1000 +- ?? given the length of time and inflation since I heard this.
Basically, the higher the voltage you can run an appliance, the more efficient it is. Also, the longer you can run electric at higher voltage, the less current you draw (less heat generated) for the same amount of power used. This is why 240 volt appliances like air conditionders work at this voltage, it would take twice the current to work at 120 volts, and all that current generates heat and needs bigger wires to dissipate the heat and prevent the line losses.
I've heard there may also be issues with voltage loss over a long power line.
The bigger your current draw (turn on microwave, or elect water heater) you get a voltage drop due to the resistance of the wire.
Voltage = Current x Resistance, given a fixed Resistance the bigger the Current the more voltage drop. The trick to minimizing the line loss is to run your lines as far as possible with the HELCO transmission voltage (typically 13,500 volts or 13.5 kilovolts) and have your step down transformer near your house. Transformer option: on a pole overhead your place, or my preference would be to have one of those green transformer boxes (about the size of a pickup truck tool box) near the garage and run the short distance to the house underground. You may have to pay for the transformer (mainland you do, so I don't know about a "shared" transformer that "may" be provided at the street) I seem to remember hearing transformers running at about $1000 +- ?? given the length of time and inflation since I heard this.
Basically, the higher the voltage you can run an appliance, the more efficient it is. Also, the longer you can run electric at higher voltage, the less current you draw (less heat generated) for the same amount of power used. This is why 240 volt appliances like air conditionders work at this voltage, it would take twice the current to work at 120 volts, and all that current generates heat and needs bigger wires to dissipate the heat and prevent the line losses.
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