The line-power tag has no wiki summary.
8
votes
2answers
363 views
The electricity grid: what keeps small power generators from being 'driven' by large ones?
This is a two part question and pertains to power generation:
What prevents a larger plant (say nuclear) from turning an itsy-bitsy gas generator into an electric motor and drive current through it? ...
1
vote
1answer
48 views
How to understand synchronism?
In my job, I frequently compile a rough rundown of the power consumption of simple industrial plants. Here, you always encounter a "synchronism" factor, besides how many motors of which power and ...
0
votes
2answers
84 views
How can an inverter transfer energy to the power network?
It is possible to use an inverter to transfer energy from home made produced energy to the main power network. It is not clear to me how this can be achieved. What type of load appear to be the power ...
-7
votes
2answers
97 views
Send a signal through the powerline [closed]
I would like to what is the easiest and cheapest way of sending a signal through a 110 volt outlet wiring to another outlet on the same phase or on a different phase. I would like to know if a light, ...
3
votes
1answer
123 views
Two power sources, common ground and noise
I'm having the following circuit:
Where TWL6030 is a DC-DC buck converter and INA219 is a high side current sensing circuit.
My problem is with the power sources,...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
How to calculate Real Power and Power Factor using an Oscilloscope?
I'm trying to calculate the Real Power consumption of my device in Stand-by mode, but to do that I need to figure out its power factor due to:
Real Power = Vrms x Irms x PF
Now, my device like many ...
-1
votes
2answers
121 views
Single pole AC to DC conversion circuit
I am thinking about making a remote control light switch that fits into the existing light switch panel. And to power up the electronics that would requires a 3.3V DC supply.
The problem is, the ...
5
votes
2answers
402 views
How does an inverter affect the computer?
I have rampant power failure in my country. So to mitigate, we have an inverter that basically converts the charge from a big lead-acid battery to AC. But as far as i know this doesn't produce pure ...
1
vote
1answer
231 views
SMPS unit working
Can anybody help me with schematic or links for effective design of an SMPS unit which takes 230v AC and outputs 12 v dc with 2A .... i want to understand how it works how a optocoupler work in that ...
2
votes
3answers
370 views
Line, Neutral and Ground and another Ground
I try to make a 110VAC energy meter connected to my computer out of the CS5490
This IC measures voltage and current over a voltage divider and shunt resistor respectively and then calculates the ...
11
votes
4answers
943 views
Why have electricity travel across the country at 1,150 kV?
The Powerline Ekibastuz–Kokshetau in Kazakhstan holds the record for having the highest operating transmission voltage in the world, running at over 1 megavolt. Why did they choose to deliver energy ...
2
votes
2answers
195 views
what's in this peculiar safety plug?
This unusual plug interfaces an electric hair dryer to the 120V 60Hz mains. The thing that makes it peculiar is that when it is tipped back and forth, a small 'clunk' can be felt, as something inside ...
1
vote
2answers
111 views
Will there be a problem if I stay almost in the border in trace spacing when dealing with line voltages?
The IPC-2221 standard shows that 1.25mm will be enough at less than 3050m at 250V (220V is the line voltage here in Turkey), even if the coating gets damaged. However, people generally recommend 5mm ...
11
votes
4answers
5k views
Creepage distance for PCBs handling line voltage AC?
What is the required creepage (e.g. trace-to-trace) distance for PCBs handling 240VAC rms? What about 120VAC?
This is for UL and CE certification.
The standards for PCB Creepage (e.g. the distance ...
3
votes
3answers
395 views
mixing multiple power sources
I have 500 watt wind turbine which gives watt around 100-500 depending upon weather condition.
I use it for led lighting. total led wattage is around 500 watt.
so most of the time not all of the ...
2
votes
1answer
124 views
What is the IEC standard number for this plug?
I need the specific IEC standard number for a power plug/socket used in a laptop. See the photo below. I need to know the laptop-side plug (the lower plug in the photo). Thanks. This plug is used in ...
5
votes
2answers
152 views
How is an AC signal offset?
In three-phase the 2nd and 3rd phase are offset by about 120 degrees(\$\frac{2\pi}{3}\$ radians). But how is this achieved?
The concept that just each phase is offset by 120 degrees sounds easy but ...
5
votes
4answers
297 views
First mains-powered project - best practices?
I'm about to commence building a project that's basically a USB-controlled dimmer. I think the main components will be:
Velleman K8064 voltage-controlled dimmer
Phidget 1018 usb interface board
...
7
votes
4answers
493 views
What have countries gained by increasing/decreasing mains voltage by 10V?
Reading the list of standard plug and socket types on Wikipedia, I see that countries have made their mains voltage higher or lower.
For example, in Mainland Britain (Wales, Scotland, England) the ...
1
vote
1answer
172 views
Transformer Output Problem
I have this transformer which is 240VAC to 11.4VAC. But when I hook up my multimeter I am only reading about 1.2V. I have my multimeter configured to read AC and the scale is also correct. However my ...
11
votes
4answers
5k views
Why is three-phase offset by 120 degrees?
For three phase electricity the wave is offset by 120 degrees(2\$\pi/3\$ Rad). Why aren't the phases closer together? Is it because it will affect the frequency of the phases? How was this 120 degrees ...
0
votes
5answers
573 views
How to switch many (15) low power (40W) lightbulbs from a microcontroller?
The power rating on the bulb is the amount of power the PSU has to deliver in order for the bulb to light up the brightest right? Hence if it's a 40w bulb I need 40watts of power for it to light up ...
3
votes
5answers
6k views
Have 60A 220V circuit, want to use one 110V leg of it. Can i?
I have an 220V air compressor (30A) in the attic of my garage.
It has a 110V automatic drain valve connected to it.
A the breaker box downstairs I want to be able to turn the power off to BOTH.
...
9
votes
5answers
523 views
Power grids : AC vs DC
We know that we have now 50/60Hz in our walls due to mainly historical reasons - back 100 years ago there were no ways to up/down scale DC voltage.
These days we just have problems due to that - ...
3
votes
2answers
422 views
21V power supply — 26V output with different mains?
I have an AC/DC power supply (from the UK). It is labelled 230V/50hz. As far as I know, electric in Mainland britain is 240V/50hz. Indeed, the unit did correctly power the Korg keyboard in the UK. ...
5
votes
7answers
2k views
What is the easiest way to monitor a 120v line via software?
I'm wanting to count how often a water pump turns on, how long it's on for and when it turns off for an extended period of time. My plan was just to monitor the pressure switch, which is at 120v on 1 ...
2
votes
3answers
283 views
My country's voltage is 220 and I want to recharge a Japanese cellphone (100V), what should I use?
I live in the Netherlands and can't recharge my Japanese cellphone because I think it's due to the difference in voltage.
What should I use in order to recharge it anyways?
Thanks!!
1
vote
4answers
383 views
Is it okay to use SMT for 250VAC parts?
I've found some 400V 0805 resistors. However, as in my previous question, I noted that almost no power supplies used surface mount components.
One of the things I'm working on is a capacitive power ...
17
votes
6answers
666 views
Why does turning on my desk lamp crash my board?
Whenever I turn on my desk lamp, my board crashes. Sometimes I get garbage out of the serial port, sometimes it resets.
I tried adding some extra bypass capacitors on my breadboard, but that made no ...
