Gentlemen, I moderate quite a few lathe and machine shop groups. One of the discussions that pop up regularly is power distribution to these machines. Besides the inherent benefits of lower voltage drop when configuring a dual voltage motor (120V/240V) to 240V and load balancing the two 120V lines to minimize voltage drop on any single conductor, there's a dubious claim that keeps popping up in these discussions that has little to due with these issues. If it weren't for 'Myth Busters' errant cannon ball it would have made a good episode.
Anyway here is the claim:
There are those that believe that the power companies are ripping off the customer via inaccurate measurement of your KWH use. The claim further states that if the load on the meter (itself) is not ballanced the meter will lie. As usual with these claims, the error always benefits the power utility.
We have great minds here at AAC and we also have dirt green novices. Please leave this discussion to the knowledgeable. Merely posting something like "It's true" won't cut it. Any intelligent discussion about this (pro or con) must include solid knowledge of the KWH meter's workings and why current draw off one leg would manifest this. From the little that I've read it follows some of the same principals of a common 'Electrodynamometer' better known as a 'Wattmeter' that measures true power regardless of reactive loads.
PLEASE, NO CONSPIRACY BABBLERS!
Anyway here is the claim:
There are those that believe that the power companies are ripping off the customer via inaccurate measurement of your KWH use. The claim further states that if the load on the meter (itself) is not ballanced the meter will lie. As usual with these claims, the error always benefits the power utility.
We have great minds here at AAC and we also have dirt green novices. Please leave this discussion to the knowledgeable. Merely posting something like "It's true" won't cut it. Any intelligent discussion about this (pro or con) must include solid knowledge of the KWH meter's workings and why current draw off one leg would manifest this. From the little that I've read it follows some of the same principals of a common 'Electrodynamometer' better known as a 'Wattmeter' that measures true power regardless of reactive loads.
PLEASE, NO CONSPIRACY BABBLERS!