[wellylug] 2nd blown up powersupply

[Peter Jones]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rob Giltrap [mailto:rob at kiwihq.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, 13 April 2005 9:25 p.m.
> To: wellylug at lists.wellylug.org.nz
> Subject: Re: [wellylug] 2nd blown up powersupply
> 
> 
> Jethro Carr wrote:
> 
> >All my computer systems are well protected with surge protectors, so
> >it's not a surge or anything.
> >
> The surge protectors only cover the extreme surges not moderate 
> fluctuations. Only a dual inversion UPS (power smoothing) 
> gives you any 
> guarantee of a stable supply. Your house power supply may not be that 
> stable and stresses the PSU. Though with two occurences you 
> are probably 
> right about the bad batch.

The domestic mains power supply  (where I live, anyway) is pretty crap.
We have a very high turnover of small appliances and light bulbs don't last
much longer than a couple of months.
The transformer is right at the gate, so we get over-voltage, to compensate
for voltage drop down the street

I installed a Fluke power analyzer (from work) for a week to see exactly
what we get.
Voltage ranged from a LOW of about 245 to a high of 260 (I say about as this
was three years ago and I don't have the figures to hand)
However frequency stayed spot-on at 50hz) I contacted FreshStart (at the
time who made soothing noises but didn't do anything.
In spite of repeated correspondence, nothing happened and eventually they
were taken over by Contact.

The wiring in the house is mainly new, but even if it wasn't, I've never
seen a bad bit of wiring that can increase voltage.

Needless to say the important stuff (ie my computers) live behind an APC
UPS. 

I've arranged to get the Fluke again to monitor the house power - I'll post
the results.
Peter