Low Voltage In House.

[patongphil]

Is there any way to step up the voltage to my house? We are a fair way from the mains lines and with the length of the supply wires I believe we have very low voltage power in the house. All appliances run hot, especially chargers for laptops etc.

[Kwasaki]

I guess you will be asked how long has this been happening or have you just moved in or something.

Many moons ago building the house our power supply was changed from 5/15amp to 15/45amp because of appliances, air-con etc.

As for the incoming 220-240 supply if you don't know how to check it get someone to check.

The experienced sparkies will reply sometime maybe they can suggest how to check it yourself.

Edited November 3, 2012 by Kwasaki

[NeverSure]

Digital combination volt, watt and amp testers are dirt cheap, like US $5. They have probes you can stick into the outlet.

Someone might want to check it with a load on it though. I have an inductive pickup tester that will go around a wire and give the readout without touching the wire. Then I can test with a load. It was much more expensive but that was years ago, maybe like $150. The cost of that type of thing has come down over the years, so maybe someone will know today's price.

[patongphil]

Thanks guys but what can I do if my voltage is too low??

Meantime I will source som form of tester to confirm my belief.

[Crossy]

Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVRs) are readily available in most electrical specialist outlets.

Use a suitably sized one for each item of vulnerable / expensive equipment. Whilst whole-house units are available they are very expensive and large, things such as lights and water heaters won't benefit from the extra investment.

[NeverSure]

Well, I see no locals are here yet. In my country all I would have to do is call the power company. They'd be happy to test it for free. If it wasn't right, they'd have to hang another transformer closer to the house, or maybe just install another or bigger transformer where the existing one is if it's overloaded with customers.

Without the help of the power provider, there isn't much you can do at the house itself other than test it.

Oops, I see there was an answer as I typed. I'm not sure how a voltage regulator can kick the amperage up if there's truly a power loss due to distance or system overload, but I don't know the Thai grid design.

Edited November 4, 2012 by NeverSure

[phoneguy702]

Are you the only one on your Transformer? if you had the provider come out to check they can just change the tap on the transformer.

[Crossy]

Our OP needs to actually measure what he's getting at his distribution board in the house and at the meter in the road, also whilst you're at it check the size of the incoming cable to the house (that cable belongs to you so if too small then it's your problem) and the rating of the meter.

Measure the voltage several times over the day and log it, we need to know if it's constantly low or varies over the day.

Whilst one can of course call PEA to fix supply voltage problems they have a very limited budget and if your supply is 'working' then that's likely good enough for them.

[electau]

First make sure that the voltage problem is not in your electrical installation. If it is not it may well pay to use an energy management system and use less energy, ie do not use all electrical equipment at one time.

How ever if the problem is not in your installation the answer is to get the PEA to rectify it but you may have to pay some of the capital cost.