Voltage drop in marinas on shore power harm to other gear.

[mocruising]

We have noticed over the years a considerable voltage drop when connected to the shore power boxes in some marinas, working our way east across the Med. often down to 200 volts. Recently we noticed a voltage of 160-180 volts (Europe not US ) this was actually in a well known marina in Turkey. Nothing seems to trip out but I was wondering if it will harm other electrical kit such as battery chargers, water heater, kettle, toaster, washing machine, phone, camera chargers and the like.

 

[rivonia]

We also noticed this when we were in TRNC at KGM marina. When the generator came on all the main circuit lights were so much brighter. Don't know if it had a detrimental effect.

Peter

 

[akyaka]

Just slower or dimmer. Voltage in Turkey is nominally 220V but varies particularly in isolated villages . When I queried this on a marina in the UK I was told that it was power drop in the long cable serving them .

 

[david_bagshaw]

bad for anything with a motor in it. ok for resistive loads, though the toaster will probably just dry the bread rather than toast it! chargers, well depends on which make & design & purpose. phone ones , probably cope, ships battery, well....

 

[SeamanStaines]

In principle, probably not as most items have a wide tolerance. The thing that you really have to watch though is the current involved. If for example you have a 1kw water heater then that will be 4.16 amps at 240v but will increase to 6.25amps at 160v. A lot of electrical equipment uses power supplies that will handle large changes in the input supply and usually the worst that will happen is that they will just stop working if the input supply is to low for them.

The cute move is to install an intelligent inverter like a victron or a studer which will take what it can from the input supply and then convert that to a constant 240v output. The only annoying think with them is that they wont go as low as 110v so that you can connect to an american supply and still get 240v (I think my studer gives up at about 150v)

 

[Bilgediver]

We have noticed over the years a considerable voltage drop when connected to the shore power boxes in some marinas, working our way east across the Med. often down to 200 volts. Recently we noticed a voltage of 160-180 volts (Europe not US ) this was actually in a well known marina in Turkey. Nothing seems to trip out but I was wondering if it will harm other electrical kit such as battery chargers, water heater, kettle, toaster, washing machine, phone, camera chargers and the like.

The only equipment that may suffer is refrigeration and AC plant where at the low voltage the motors may stall on start and then overheat and burn out.

 

[pteron]

In principle, probably not as most items have a wide tolerance. The thing that you really have to watch though is the current involved. If for example you have a 1kw water heater then that will be 4.16 amps at 240v but will increase to 6.25amps at 160v.

If it was truly a 1kW heater then yes. But it isn't. It's a big resistor and so the effect of dropping the volts to 160 would be to reduce the current to 2.8A, equivalent to 450W. So your water will take much longer to heat.

 

[SeamanStaines]

If it was truly a 1kW heater then yes. But it isn't. It's a big resistor and so the effect of dropping the volts to 160 would be to reduce the current to 2.8A, equivalent to 450W. So your water will take much longer to heat.

I stand corrected :-( And I really should engage my brain before sitting at a keyboard!

 

[pteron]

I stand corrected :-( And I really should engage my brain before sitting at a keyboard!

You never know, they may have a switching converter inside to keep up the power, then your calc would be spot on!

 

[miyagimoon]

Just slower or dimmer. Voltage in Turkey is nominally 220V but varies particularly in isolated villages . When I queried this on a marina in the UK I was told that it was power drop in the long cable serving them .

In UK BS7671 (British Standards "Requirements for Electrical Installations) indicates that the voltage at any load must never fall so low as to impair the safe working of that load, or fall below the level indicated by the relevant British Standard where one applies.

It also indicates that these requirements will he met if the voltage drop does not exceed 4% of the declared supply voltage. If the supply is single-phase at the usual level of 240 V, this means a maximum volt drop of 4% of 240 V which is 9.6 V, giving (in simple terms) a load voltage as low as 230.4 V. For a 415 V three-phase system, allowable volt drop will be 16.6 V with a line load voltage as low as 398.4 V.

It should be borne in mind that European Agreement RD 472 S2 allows the declared supply voltage of 230 V to vary by +10% or -6%. Assuming that the supply voltage of 240 V is 6% low, and allowing a 4% volt drop, this gives permissible load voltages of 216.6 V for a single-phase supply, or 374.5 V (line) for a 415 V three-phase supply.

 

[akyaka]

In UK BS7671 (British Standards "Requirements for Electrical Installations) indicates that the voltage at any load must never fall so low as to impair the safe working of that load, or fall below the level indicated by the relevant British Standard where one applies.

It also indicates that these requirements will he met if the voltage drop does not exceed 4% of the declared supply voltage. If the supply is single-phase at the usual level of 240 V, this means a maximum volt drop of 4% of 240 V which is 9.6 V, giving (in simple terms) a load voltage as low as 230.4 V. For a 415 V three-phase system, allowable volt drop will be 16.6 V with a line load voltage as low as 398.4 V.

It should be borne in mind that European Agreement RD 472 S2 allows the declared supply voltage of 230 V to vary by +10% or -6%. Assuming that the supply voltage of 240 V is 6% low, and allowing a 4% volt drop, this gives permissible load voltages of 216.6 V for a single-phase supply, or 374.5 V (line) for a 415 V three-phase supply.

Sorry - and the relevance of what is a statement of fact to my untutored comment is ??

 

[SeamanStaines]

In UK BS7671 (British Standards "Requirements for Electrical Installations) indicates that the voltage at any load must never fall so low as to impair the safe working of that load, or fall below the level indicated by the relevant British Standard where one applies.

It also indicates that these requirements will he met if the voltage drop does not exceed 4% of the declared supply voltage. If the supply is single-phase at the usual level of 240 V, this means a maximum volt drop of 4% of 240 V which is 9.6 V, giving (in simple terms) a load voltage as low as 230.4 V. For a 415 V three-phase system, allowable volt drop will be 16.6 V with a line load voltage as low as 398.4 V.

It should be borne in mind that European Agreement RD 472 S2 allows the declared supply voltage of 230 V to vary by +10% or -6%. Assuming that the supply voltage of 240 V is 6% low, and allowing a 4% volt drop, this gives permissible load voltages of 216.6 V for a single-phase supply, or 374.5 V (line) for a 415 V three-phase supply.

I can't wait to quote that one to the locals in Greece or Turkey (well anywhere really)

 

[Bobobolinsky]

I've had table saws and compressors burn out under load

Note if the voltage is low and you are paying for the leccy, you receive less energy for your money, as the the meter is probably not smart enough to cope.