[RFI] RE: WOW!!!!!!!

[Ed - K0iL]

On Saturday, 09 March, 2002 9:01 AM, Jon Ogden  wrote:
> Not only that, but RFI is caused by an arcing situation somewhere.
> An arcing situation involves a discharge of electricity.
> Electricity spent in discharging is less they have to deliver to 
customers.
>
> So it is an efficiency and cost benefit to them to fix the RFI problems.
> Every little problem may not be very much in terms of power grid 
efficiency.
> But if it is widespread, you add all those up and it most certainly does
> have an impact.  These guys want to provide power with the least loss of
> that power from the substation to your home.  Well, if they lose some of
> that power in arcs, they are wasting some power and hence losing some 
money.
>
> So there is certainly a benefit for them to fix it!

Just getting a little caught up on e-mails here.  Boy!  You guys are fast!

As Pete pointed out, 95-99.9% of arcing is usually on miscellaneous "loose" 
hardware on the pole which has a voltage induced into it by the nearby HV 
xmission line.  The arcing is rarely from the lines themselves.  Those that 
are, are not always a real big concern (unless it trips a circuit brkr) for 
the system efficiency when compared to something like power factor loading 
during hot summers when everyone is running their A/C on high and providing 
a large inductive loading onto the system.  That's what those capacitor 
banks all over the place are for: to compensate for this inductive load and 
return the power factor to normal.  (Capacitive and inductice reactances 
cancel each other out.)

A real big arc would of course trip a circuit, which does get their 
attention because the phones start ringing off the hook!  Then the trucks 
start rolling.

Besides all of this, the power company does NOT loose a dime on 
inefficiency.  It's just like paying taxes--companies don't pay taxes, 
their customers DO!  Hopefully, someday deregulation will have the effect 
of forcing companies to become more efficient, but that will not translate 
into better RFI services for hams by any means.  More likely it will mean 
exactly what is happening right now.  Especially if you're buying your 
power from somewhere else, but the local distribution company's equipment 
is making the noise.  Lot's of luck getting them to return your phone calls 
then!  They just won't be making enough money from you to care about the 
problem of one non-customer.

Good luck on your battle tomorrow Tom!

73,
de ed -K0iL
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 Ed Edwards    --    K0iL
  PO Box 375
 Elkhorn, NE 68022-0375
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