Does the delivery of electrical energy over 120 volts to residences damage my electronic equipment?

Question

My electric company routinely deliver voltage to me at 124 volts to 126 volts. The voltage requirements for most of my electrical equipment is stated to be 120 volts. It would seem to me that the life of my electronics would be less at the higher voltages. The life of my light bulbs is certainly affected according to reports from light bulb manufacturer. Up to a 50% less life than stated on the bulb package. This then seems to me to be a huge waste of our resources, a much higher cost to me the consumer, and a much higher profit to the electrical companies and to the manufacturers of light bulbs and electronics. Does anyone have any correlation to my thoughts?

Answer 1

No, a few volts either way will make no difference. No utility can deliver a constant voltage over it's transmission lines.

Answer 2

One question, how are you determining the voltage? most consumer quality multimeters don't have spectacular accuracy.

There are a lot of factors affecting the line voltage, I'm sure the power company is not deliberately delivering too high voltage. There are probably people further down the line who have voltage a little low at peak usage hours, BTW, what is you voltage at peak hours?
I'm pretty sure the Chinese companies making your light bulbs have no idea, or any control over, what your local electric company is doing.
A lot of electronic devices are not going to be bothered by 126V, the computer I'm typing this on is rated for 100-240. Incandescent bulbs will have a problem, but there are 130v "long life" bulbs available.

Answer 3

You either live very close to your substation or you are checking the voltage during off-peak hours. Power companies are obligated to deliver a minimum voltage to all their customers, regardless of distance from the substation or current draw on the power lines. Voltage loss on a power line is proportional to both current and distance from the source.

As another answerer stated, modern electronic equipment uses regulated power supplies that are designed to be insensitive to such small variations in supply voltage. A 5% increase in voltage results in a 10.25% increase in power consumption of a resistance load (light bulb), with an estimated 2.4% increase in filament temperature. This may or may not cause a 50% reduction in life expectancy. Neither of these conditions is liokely to impoverish you. Motor loads actually become more efficient given small overvoltages like this.

If you are really concerned about this issue, there are two remedial options: a buck-boost transformer or a variable autotransformer. Buck-boost transformers have fixed taps for 5% and 10% voltage changes. Variable autotransformers can be set to provide exact voltages within their ranges. Neither is inexpensive, and for a "whole-house" solution would have to be installed by a qualified electrician.

Answer 4

Actually 125 is within the voltage tolerance for all devices... they are typically rated 120 volts + or - 5%. Low voltages are far more likely to harm motors than over voltage.
Chuckle... it is more likely that low voltage will cause an over charge than an over voltage. As the voltage drops a motor will draw increasing current & run hotter. Your power usage is measured in Watts anyway.

Answer 5

The bulb take in certain power.
And the formula for power is voltage * current

To save cost of the cable, votage is suppose to be high and current is suppose to be low.

If the voltage somehow drop and current will increase to compesate, to allow the same power.

Thus cable and equipment will life span will be affected for increase of current.

Power station usually produce a higher voltage to compesate voltage drop along the way.

If possible, use a voltmeter to measure the voltage of your house is consuming.

some bulb's brand isn't mend for certain country.
for example Singapore is 230V

hope this help

Answer 6

No notwithstanding it makes me have a sturdy cry each once in a lengthy time period. presently i have been getting fairly less than pressure out about our kinfolk funds. i have self assurance like a loser because we gained't look to save our heads above water. it form of feels that our expenditures are transforming into with the help of the day. between identifying to purchase more advantageous gas and food expenditures, we are fairly stretched. Financially and spiritually conversing, I wanna scream each and every time i'm getting a bill.

Answer 7

lightbulbs do not have voltage regulators or filters....electronics do. find something else to worry about.