Strange power failure at the house this morning.

[KubotainNH]

I've got the other 2 PC's going by replacing the PowerSupply units inside the system units. Luckily no data loss at all.

I was going to mention that you may be able to get the PC's back up by replacing the power supplies. You beat me to it. Glad to hear no data loss, that can be a huge pain.

 

[CobyRupert]

i bet there was a bit of a spike when that neutral opened....

The computer leg probably got the biggest voltage spike when the air compressor kicked on in the other leg. Starting/locked rotor impedence of the motor is very low (thus high starting current through this temporary "short"). With little impedance there's little voltage drop across the motor so the other computer leg gets hit with most of the 240v. (I.e when you lose the neutral, instead of 240 divided across 2-120v legs, the 240v gets divided across the 2 legs, according to the resistance (impedence) of the loads plugged into each leg. These loads/legs are now in series with each other, dividing the 240v) But they should handle 240v, that's what Europe and China etc plug into.

 

[CobyRupert]

But, I am curious if the three phase distribution system failed in some manner, if one could get over voltage? In other words if the 4800 feeding my transformer could go much higher because of some fault in their system, and then my 110/220 would go up proportionally and possibly destroy my stuff!.

Yes.
A grounded wye system that loses its neutral/ground references that has a single phase ground fault (short) can see a raised voltage on the other 2 phases of up to 170%.

 

[k0ua]

When the Sun Spots Strike someday, that "Dead" list will be a whole lot longer! Some say it will take decades to repair the damage to the national grid!

For the benefit of those that might not know of what he speaks: In 1859 there was a major solar flare with a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection).. We have CME's all the time but this was a big-un. It knocked out what "electrics" existed in the world at that time, which wasn't much. Just mostly telegraph installations.

It is theorized that if that happened today, it would be TEOTWAWKI event. Um......thats The End Of The World As We Know It. It is estimated to take at least 3 years to replace all the burn't out transformers. Not to mentioned everything hooked to them. Just how do you get the transformer plant up and running is the first problem.

And if we do have a TEOTWAWKI event, you will definitely not be "feeling fine"

 

[Mace Canute]

For the benefit of those that might not know of what he speaks: In 1859 there was a major solar flare with a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection).. We have CME's all the time but this was a big-un. It knocked out what "electrics" existed in the world at that time, which wasn't much. Just mostly telegraph installations.

It is theorized that if that happened today, it would be TEOTWAWKI event. Um......thats The End Of The World As We Know It. It is estimated to take at least 3 years to replace all the burn't out transformers. Not to mentioned everything hooked to them. Just how do you get the transformer plant up and running is the first problem.

And if we do have a TEOTWAWKI event, you will definitely not be "feeling fine"

There's satellites that are designed to study the sun so we should have advance notice of such a CME but the real question is will those who have the authority to open ALL switches, etc, be notified in time and will they act?

 

[aczlan]

The computer leg probably got the biggest voltage spike when the air compressor kicked on in the other leg. Starting/locked rotor impedence of the motor is very low (thus high starting current through this temporary "short"). With little impedance there's little voltage drop across the motor so the other computer leg gets hit with most of the 240v. (I.e when you lose the neutral, instead of 240 divided across 2-120v legs, the 240v gets divided across the 2 legs, according to the resistance (impedence) of the loads plugged into each leg. These loads/legs are now in series with each other, dividing the 240v) But they should handle 240v, that's what Europe and China etc plug into.

If they were a desktop computer power supply (like this one: Bestec ATX-300-12ZCDR 300 Watt ATX Power Supply) where you have to flip a switch to use 240 (vs autoswitching like a laptop power supply) I can easily see how they could have fried.

Aaron Z

 

[Soundguy]

If they were a desktop computer power supply (like this one: Bestec ATX-300-12ZCDR 300 Watt ATX Power Supply) where you have to flip a switch to use 240 (vs autoswitching like a laptop power supply) I can easily see how they could have fried.

Aaron Z

agreed..

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

I just got an email from the financial guy at our power company... he says in our situation, with pole and transformer on municipal property, they are responsible for the service to my meter box. :drink: So now we just wait for the next crew to come out.

Also, he told me to send him receipts for repairs to all my damaged electronics, and he would put in an insurance claim on my behalf.
I've still got to go out to the barn & check the battery maintainer I keep on the Miata in the winter. Other than that, I've checked everything.

Pete

 

[Soundguy]

So far so good. Keep us posted.

Best of luck with this.

 

[Mendonsy]

I just got an email from the financial guy at our power company... he says in our situation, with pole and transformer on municipal property, they are responsible for the service to my meter box. :drink: So now we just wait for the next crew to come out.

Also, he told me to send him receipts for repairs to all my damaged electronics, and he would put in an insurance claim on my behalf.
I've still got to go out to the barn & check the battery maintainer I keep on the Miata in the winter. Other than that, I've checked everything.

Pete

That's great news!! I hope everything works out OK!!