Interesting power change

[joe schmoe]

So I got a PS audio PPP and have been using it for a couple of months...My power in has been (according to the PPP) was 121 VAC in and 1.4% THD....Not bad. The PPP was providing 120 VAC out and .3% THD.

So we live in a 1970 home and the breaker box was no long manufactured and the previous owner thought he was an electrician (what a mess).

So, I went out an bought a new SquareD QO 200 Amp panel and hired an electrician to install it. They came out and installed, was verified by the state to be code complaint and put into service.

He's the twist: Now my PPP is showing one several occasions that my input power is 116-118VAC with 2.3% THD. Of course the PPP is doing its duty generating the output to 120VAC and .3% THD..

Just found that with the new breaker box, I now have worse power input than I did before the the swap...Just an interesting power change!

[PHC1]

Perhaps the purity of copper and quality of the breaker box was much higher back in the 70's. I wouldn't be surprised, hence the often heard adage of "They don't make them like they used to"... The voltage drop you have noticed has only one explanation. More resistance.

[jdandy]

Joe.......What was the amperage rating of your old service panel? Did the Power company install a new transformer to serve your new 200 amp panel? Does your utility transformer get shared with neighbors or a business, or is it dedicated to your home with no other loads attached?

[joe schmoe]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Joe.......What was the amperage rating of your old service panel? Did the Power company install a new transformer to serve your new 200 amp panel? Does your utility transformer get shared with neighbors or a business, or is it dedicated to your home with no other loads attached?

jdandy,

In order would be:
What was the amperage rating of your old service panel? 200 amp new one is the same 200 amp service

Did the Power company install a new transformer to serve your new 200 amp panel? No Sir. They (electric company) took down the meter base and put it back up after the electrician replaced the breaker box


Does your utility transformer get shared with neighbors or a business, or is it dedicated to your home with no other loads attached? No Sir, it is a shared transformer with my neighbors across the street, only one other home.

[Cohibaman]

I wonder if there’s something back-feeding the panel that was on the other phase in the old box.

[joe schmoe]

Originally Posted by Cohibaman

I wonder if there’s something back-feeding the panel that was on the other phase in the old box.

That's a very good thought! Hmmm, the electrician re-wired (differently) the breaker box. This could be the new normal for the circuit....

[jdandy]

Joe.......Did the power company reinstall your old meter or one of the new auto polling meters?

[joe schmoe]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Joe.......Did the power company reinstall your old meter or one of the new auto polling meters?

No Sir, we've had one of those for about 2 years now. Same meter base as before.

[jdandy]

Joe.......Just a suggestion, but perhaps you may want to change the circuit that feeds your Power Plant Premier to the other phase, that is either up one circuit breaker or down one circuit breaker on the same side of the panel. It may be that the phase your stereo circuit is presently using has some noise inducing equipment on it that may not be impacting the other phase. It is easy to do and may yield a benefit.

[joe schmoe]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Joe.......Just a suggestion, but perhaps you may want to change the circuit that feeds your Power Plant Premier to the other phase, that is either up one circuit breaker or down one circuit breaker on the same side of the panel. It may be that the phase your stereo circuit is presently using has some noise inducing equipment on it that may not be impacting the other phase. It is easy to do and may yield a benefit.

I'll give that a try...Planning on wiring up my manual transfer switch for the genset, in a week or two....Certainly can't hurt.