Voltage regulation.

[mikeymoo]

Does anybody know the requirements regarding voltage regulation with DNO..
Does the supply voltage need to be maintained within a required percentage?

Been to a customer today thats having problems with electrical devices in the home because of poor voltage regulation. I got readings between 190v and 310volts.. Seems worse during times of high demand.

After chatting with the neighbours either side they seem to be having the same problem.

 

[stevie2011]

230V

+10% at 253V
- 6 % 216.2

between those ranges

BS7671 APPENDIX 2 - 14.

better wait for the experts to reply about possible reasons why you might be getting terrible voltages and what to do about it, I'd ask the supply company.

 

[mikeymoo]

Customer did contact supplier and got the impression they wouldnt do anything about it because of cost rectifying this.
Give them the excuse that its because there at the end of the supply cable.

 

[SimpleSimon]

Stevie is absolutely spot on. Let your customer know that they can go back to the supply company and quote back that regulation to give them a bit of ground to stand on.

 

[stevie2011]

Wouldnt variation beyond the declared values of tolerances be considered a breach of the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 under section 27 which specifies the nominal values of frequency and voltage together with permitted tolerances?

I think they're just trying to fob you off.

 

[mikeymoo]

Cheers Steve2011

http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/what%20we%20do/uk%20energy%20supply/resilience/gas_electric/electricity/file26709.pdf

 

[bomjac]

Would hazard a guess at either the Neutral having a dodgy connection somewhere along the line or one of the users having an earth fault on one of their phases. Either way, the DNO is outwith their legal supply limits and are at fault here.
They may need to get some form of recording the data over a period of time though to put evidence to the DNO, so it could involve getting a Dranetz power quality meter or one of the fluke scopemeters involved. Not cheap, the last Dranetz we hired was £750 a week !

 

[davelerave]

i reckon they should be out in less than 5 minutes if those voltage readings are correct:ciappa:

 

[mechelec]

Get them to phone the emergency number of the DNO as said earlier they will come out to rectify FOC

 

[oxocube]

Those voltages indicate a major problem, as others have said ring the dno's emergency number. You can find your local dno on the national grid website.

 

[UKMeterman]

Yes call the DNO NOW and ask them to measure and put on a voltage recorder. I got them out when it was only 256 volts and they pulled the fuses at the local transformer within 3 hours of the call. If they still won't listen go hire a Fluke VR101S and ir will give you all the readings you need. If you are interested in seeing the power quality in the building have a look for a Fluke 43B, these items can be had for about £70 to £100 per week.