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[Mark Hannah]

I found a few posts about low voltage but they do not completely cover the information I'm looking for.  Posts such as opinions on what is too low and too high and what the utility company is legally obligated to provide at the closest and furthest point.

This is almost more of a request on how to go about addressing the issue.  I have been voicing the concern with the "venue" for a few years so...  Your responses will help me decide if the chain of emails I already have is good enough to cover me if we were to have show stoppage.

I'm uncertain how much detail to provide so I'll start out with a few bullets and answer any of your questions.

• Without a load, the voltage is between 112 to 114 (G-H and N-H) and 198 (H-H).
• With a load, I have seen the voltage drop to 100-104.
• Incoming power from provider is 460v measured by facilities' electrical contractor.
• Amp meter on distro isn't very accurate (doesn't show anything below 5A).  Educated guess = constant 30-35A when using lights.  Audio is probably 5-10 of that.
• 100amp service.  Panel not labelled so I don't know what else might be on it.
• UPSes will drop to battery.  Typically for only short durations
• Self powered mains/monitors (Meyer).  No complete loss of audio.
• Keyboard with less forgiving PSU has shutdown once in the past.
• Reference PDF (link below) for RMS Voltage and Current from utility provider.

Thank you in advance.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TKRe0qEkQmk6nYvn4iJ9b5pn4xEP9ZGL/view?usp=sharing

[TJ (Tom) Cornish]

I found a few posts about low voltage but they do not completely cover the information I'm looking for.  Posts such as opinions on what is too low and too high and what the utility company is legally obligated to provide at the closest and furthest point.

This is almost more of a request on how to go about addressing the issue.  I have been voicing the concern with the "venue" for a few years so...  Your responses will help me decide if the chain of emails I already have is good enough to cover me if we were to have show stoppage.

I'm uncertain how much detail to provide so I'll start out with a few bullets and answer any of your questions.

• Without a load, the voltage is between 112 to 114 (G-H and N-H) and 198 (H-H).
• With a load, I have seen the voltage drop to 100-104.
• Incoming power from provider is 460v measured by facilities' electrical contractor.
• Amp meter on distro isn't very accurate (doesn't show anything below 5A).  Educated guess = constant 30-35A when using lights.  Audio is probably 5-10 of that.
• 100amp service.  Panel not labelled so I don't know what else might be on it.
• UPSes will drop to battery.  Typically for only short durations
• Self powered mains/monitors (Meyer).  No complete loss of audio.
• Keyboard with less forgiving PSU has shutdown once in the past.
• Reference PDF (link below) for RMS Voltage and Current from utility provider.

Thank you in advance.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TKRe0qEkQmk6nYvn4iJ9b5pn4xEP9ZGL/view?usp=sharing

Voltage dropping below 105-108v is too low. 110+ is better.

Practically speaking, the shortest path is probably bringing a boost transformer and billing your client for it.  You can let them know that this is necessary because the venue power is inadequate, and their choice is to fix the power issue - whether it's theirs or the POCO's - or continue paying you to work around the low voltage.  Your datalogger chart should be very helpful in making your case to venue management.

[Stephen Swaffer]

There are 2 separate issues here-and 2 separate correct solutions-though TJ's solution might be the only one you can use.

First-and potentially the easiest to fix is the low voltage.  Line to neutral voltage on 460 volts (as opposed to 480-though often used interchangeably) is 265 v nominal.  In that case your readings, as recorded, look fine.  However, there will be a customer owned transformer somewhere on premises-probably close to the 120/208 panel.  If that is a 480 to 208/120 transformer, that would explain the low voltage.  There are most likely taps on that transformer that are intended to adjust the voltage.  They should have been adjusted by the installer to provide 120 volts nominal at the 120 volt panel-though it is conceivable (but not at all likely) that they are set where they are on purpose.  It should take a good commercial or industrial electrician less than an hour to correct this and get the voltage where it should be.

The second issue is the voltage drop from loaded to unloaded.  If this is consistent across all three phases, then it indicates something is undersized-maybe the transformer, more likely wire somewhere in the circuit.  The wire is probably large enough "by the tables" ampacity wise-but the designer (be they electrician or engineer) did not allow for voltage drop over the length of the wire.  This is obviously much more difficult and expensive to correct.  The "hack" work around in this case would be to set the taps on the transformer a little high-maybe 122-123 volts-so that the voltage still stays high enough to avoid drop out under load.

[Mark Hannah]

Tom & Stephen,

Thank you for your responses.

Tom,

The datalogger is actually from the Utility company sent to me via the venue.

I work for the federal govt.  It is their gear and the venue is free. The federal govt would most likely need to cover the cost of renting or purchasing a transformer.

Stephen,

I did suggest the facility re-tap the transformer.  Your verbiage is much better than mine so I hope you do not mind if I cut and paste some of it.

I thought I might add the utility company's response that came along with the log.

Regards,
Mark
 

Good Afternoon.  Per our discussion, the standard voltage class that we provide at the level specified below is 265/460V.  We are allowed nominal voltage ranges between 238/414V and 278/483V by COMAR.  However, we make sure to maintain voltages close to the voltage class that we commit to our customers.

I reviewed the readings taken from the facility and don't see any issues related to abnormal voltage drops.  Please see attached file.  In this case, Pepco typically refers it back to the customer to make amends on their end.

High temperatures typically lead to higher use of air conditioning which can increase the demand on the system.  This may affect the voltage level.  However, this is included during our planning process, and we compensate to ensure that our voltage levels are still maintained through high stress situations.

[TJ (Tom) Cornish]

Tom & Stephen,

Thank you for your responses.

Tom,

The datalogger is actually from the Utility company sent to me via the venue.

I work for the federal govt.  It is their gear and the venue is free. The federal govt would most likely need to cover the cost of renting or purchasing a transformer.

Stephen,

I did suggest the facility re-tap the transformer.  Your verbiage is much better than mine so I hope you do not mind if I cut and paste some of it.

I thought I might add the utility company's response that came along with the log.

Regards,
Mark

This suggests distribution difficulties in the venue as Steve called out if the voltage is considered acceptable at the service entrance.  Sounds like you're on the right track working with the venue.

The POCO's minimum of 238/414 corresponds to about 104v after step-down, so while the measured is a lot better than that, it sounds like if the POCO wanted to be difficult, they have a lot of latitude in their policies to point to to avoid fixing the problem if it ever did measure that low.

[Nathan Riddle]

The POCO's minimum of 238/414 corresponds to about 104v after step-down

Can you elaborate on that point? Asking for a friend 

[TJ (Tom) Cornish]

Can you elaborate on that point? Asking for a friend 

The 480/277 voltage standard that many commercial facilities use for HVAC/machinery and distribution transforms down to the 208/120v voltage standard for common power.  277/120 = a stepdown ratio of 2.3:1.  238/2.3 = 104 and 278/2.3 = 121, so the POCO considers their nominal delivery range to be 104-121v.

[Nathan Riddle]

The 480/277 voltage standard that many commercial facilities use for HVAC/machinery and distribution transforms down to the 208/120v voltage standard for common power.  277/120 = a stepdown ratio of 2.3:1.  238/2.3 = 104 and 278/2.3 = 121, so the POCO considers their nominal delivery range to be 104-121v.

Ahh, thanks! I was doing single/split phase calculations instead of 3p. Threw the numbers off in me head.

[Tim McCulloch]

This is illuminating (no pun intended) as I'd never heard of nominal 460v service from a utility company.  Yes on 480 but not 460.

I'm with Swaffer - either there is undersized service wiring, the transformer isn't tapped in the right spot to deliver nominal 120/208v or 120/240v to the secondary, or both.

Other that getting a queasy feeling as voltage drops are you experiencing any failures or other issues?  I get shit from some touring personnel at one of our venues, particuarly in the summer when the grid is powering a whole bunch of air conditioning and the voltage drops.  They seem to think there is something we can do to make the PoCo flog the little rodents that turn the generators and raise the voltage but the reality is that on site, day of show, we can't do anything.

Presuming the venue can't be bothered to call an electrician a boost transformer, as suggested by TJ, is probably your best option.

[Stephen Swaffer]

My guess is that this is an older venue.  460 used to be common-used to even see motors rated at 440 VAC (not in my day-but in motors made back when stuff was made to last decades not years-so I've seen a few-a lot of old prints show nominal 440 or 460 supplies).  The POCO has no incentive to swap out the transformer-just an added expense for something that is already working. That's why I think the voltage issue is a mismatch with a 480-208/120 transformer being fed with 460 nominal.

There is not enough info to tell where the voltage drop is coming from.  A loaded/unloaded measurement on both the incoming service and the 120 v supply would be needed to diagnose that.

[Mark Hannah]

My guess is that this is an older venue.  460 used to be common-used to even see motors rated at 440 VAC (not in my day-but in motors made back when stuff was made to last decades not years-so I've seen a few-a lot of old prints show nominal 440 or 460 supplies).  The POCO has no incentive to swap out the transformer-just an added expense for something that is already working. That's why I think the voltage issue is a mismatch with a 480-208/120 transformer being fed with 460 nominal.

There is not enough info to tell where the voltage drop is coming from.  A loaded/unloaded measurement on both the incoming service and the 120 v supply would be needed to diagnose that.

It is not an older venue.  The stage is part of a residential/commercial development near a large convention center (opened 2008).  I would share the location but I do not know if the site would be sensitive to such information.  Particularly if I ultimately find it easier to share the whole thread with them rather than compile the advice all of you have shared.

I believe the "local" panel has a higher load on it than it should.  The panel is not labeled.  I am 98.6% certain that the large, outdoor video wall, directly above and behind the stage, is off the panel.

I have no site plan so I cannot provide any details on how far the transformer is from the panel.

Between the 2015 & 2016 summer seasons, I worked with the property management to get mini-cams installed which has made our life much easier.  This allowed us to not climb down into a hot, damp service hole where the breaker panel is.  The site is next to a river, the "hole" is below grade and thus has a sump pump. 

Unfortunately, the email chain is archived in Outlook PST files.  It is on my to-do list to dust of the files and see if there might be additional & helpful information.

Other that getting a queasy feeling as voltage drops are you experiencing any failures or other issues?  I get shit from some touring personnel at one of our venues, particuarly in the summer when the grid is powering a whole bunch of air conditioning and the voltage drops.  They seem to think there is something we can do to make the PoCo flog the little rodents that turn the generators and raise the voltage but the reality is that on site, day of show, we can't do anything.

No failures or damage experienced so far.  There could be accumulative/long term damage that I would never be able to connect to working at this venue.

[Mike Sokol]

This is illuminating (no pun intended) as I'd never heard of nominal 460v service from a utility company. 
I'm with Swaffer - either there is undersized service wiring, the transformer isn't tapped in the right spot to deliver nominal 120/208v or 120/240v to the secondary, or both.

...a boost transformer, as suggested by TJ, is probably your best option.

I tend to agree with this explanation. I've installed Buck and Boost transformers many times in both my industrial jobs as well as my worship venue jobs. We used them in warehouses to drop 277 volts down to 240 volts for lighting (in buck mode), or increase 208 volts up to 240 volts (in boost mode). Exact same transformer, but to change from buck to boost you just reverse the output winding to be either in or out of phase with the primary feed. Since they're not carrying the full load, just the full current times the small voltage difference they're adding or subtracting from the main feed, they're much smaller and cheaper than what you need for a full isolation transformer carrying the full KVA of the entire load.

Don't expect residential electricians to know what they are. But any good industrial electrician should have experience with Buck and Boost Transformers and know how to install them.

[Craig Hauber]

This is illuminating (no pun intended) as I'd never heard of nominal 460v service from a utility company.  Yes on 480 but not 460.

I've never heard of nominal "110" or "220" either, but that's what everyone asks for around here in farmville 

[Mike Sokol]

I've never heard of nominal "110" or "220" either, but that's what everyone asks for around here in farmville 

IIRC Edison's original spec called for 100 volts of DC which drew 1 ampere of current for a 100 watt light bulb. He soon raised it to 110 volts to compensate for the voltage drop in wiring. Later it was raised again to 115 volts (in the 60's, I think), then finally 120 volts in modern times, give or take 5% on a branch circuit under load. That's plus or minus 6 volts, so you could measure as low as 114 volts and as high as 126 volts on a branch circuit under load and still be within NEC specs.

[Guy Holt]

It is not an older venue.  The stage is part of a residential/commercial development near a large convention center (opened 2008).... I believe the "local" panel has a higher load on it than it should.  The panel is not labeled.  I am 98.6% certain that the large, outdoor video wall, directly above and behind the stage, is off the panel.

What else has changed since 2008, when the distro system was designed, has been the pervasive use of LEDs in stage lighting. I have found that a lot of LED AC power supplies are not power factor corrected (pfc). With power factors as low as .45, LEDs can draw considerable harmonic currents. The harmonic currents will cause additional voltage drop due to skin and proximity effects which cause the higher frequency harmonic currents to travel through only a narrow band near the surface of the conductor. Where more current is traveling through less copper, resistance increases and voltage drops. Recent studies in the EU have found that house distribution should be de-rated by 50% or more when powering large numbers of non-pfc LEDs.

(The Chauvet Slim Par Pro RGBA has a pf of .61 and Total Harmonic Distortion of 81%)

The manufacturers of LED Light fixtures generally do not give power factor specifications for their products. Over half of the fixtures that I tested at random (from the inventories of Boston area rental and lighting sales companies) were not pfc. With power factors ranging from .45 to .63, these fixtures generated considerable harmonic distortion (THD ranged from 75-85%.)

For those interested, I am writing a series on power quality in the age of LEDs for Protocol magazine.  If you are not familiar with Protocol, it is the quarterly publication of ESTA – an international organization working to raise standards, improve skills and strengthen the events, entertainment and installation industries. If you can’t find the print edition of the magazine, there are links on our webpage at www.screenlightandgrip.com/html/hd_plug-n-play_pkg.html.

Guy Holt, Gaffer
ScreenLight & Grip

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