Is 260-262V mains voltage safe for modern electronics?

[Jeßus]

Just as per subject heading...

Trying to ascertain whether a friend's mains voltage is the reason
they have lost a few electrical items lately - mainly amplifiers and
computer PSUs. Their mains voltage is as in the subject heading... TIA
for any advice.

 

[Sylvia Else]

Just as per subject heading...

Trying to ascertain whether a friend's mains voltage is the reason
they have lost a few electrical items lately - mainly amplifiers and
computer PSUs. Their mains voltage is as in the subject heading... TIA
for any advice.

It's within limits for some Australian states, just. It doesn't seem
probable that your friend would have multiple devices that were running
so close to their ultimate limits.

If the mains supply is implicated at all, it seems more likely that the
gear was damaged by voltage spikes. Installing surge arrestors would be
a good start.

Sylvia.

 

[Jeßus]

It's within limits for some Australian states, just. It doesn't seem
probable that your friend would have multiple devices that were running
so close to their ultimate limits.

If the mains supply is implicated at all, it seems more likely that the
gear was damaged by voltage spikes. Installing surge arrestors would be
a good start.

Thanks Sylvia. To elaborate, this is in Tasmania and my mate recently
had a solar/grid installation. The 'electrical inspector' came out and
took measurements - he reckons the solar array is adding 1 to 2v above
the 'normal' 240v and the rest is coming from the grid itself.

 

[Jeßus]

Thanks Sylvia. To elaborate, this is in Tasmania and my mate recently
had a solar/grid installation. The 'electrical inspector' came out and
took measurements - he reckons the solar array is adding 1 to 2v above
the 'normal' 240v and the rest is coming from the grid itself.

Limits in Tas are 207-253v
www.ewh.ieee.org/r10/nsw/subpages/history/Australian-AC-Line-Voltages.pdf

 

[Phil Allison]

"Jeßus"

Trying to ascertain whether a friend's mains voltage is the reason
they have lost a few electrical items lately - mainly amplifiers and
computer PSUs. Their mains voltage is as in the subject heading... TIA
for any advice.

** Any of these ( 240V to 220 V step down) should remove the your Tasweigian
friend's worry:

http://www.tortech.com.au/step-down-transformer-australia/european-transformers-to-australia

The 600W model ( $154 plus delivery) should do all the electronics in an
average house.

Only 2.5kgs so freight ought to be cheap enough from Sydney.



..... Phil

 

[Sylvia Else]

Limits in Tas are 207-253v
www.ewh.ieee.org/r10/nsw/subpages/history/Australian-AC-Line-Voltages.pdf

So, for Tassie, his voltages are bit high. I still don't see it causing
widespread damage to his electronic gear.

Sylvia.

 

[Sylvia Else]

"Jeßus"



** Any of these ( 240V to 220 V step down) should remove the your Tasweigian
friend's worry:

http://www.tortech.com.au/step-down-transformer-australia/european-transformers-to-australia

The 600W model ( $154 plus delivery) should do all the electronics in an
average house.

Only 2.5kgs so freight ought to be cheap enough from Sydney.

Won't do anything for him if his problem is spikes.

Sylvia.

 

[Trevor Wilson]

Just as per subject heading...

Trying to ascertain whether a friend's mains voltage is the reason
they have lost a few electrical items lately - mainly amplifiers and
computer PSUs. Their mains voltage is as in the subject heading... TIA
for any advice.

**Depends on where it is manufactured. Aussie built stuff (which is
destined for WA) would be safe enough. Anything made in China is a
crap-shoot. Some is reasonable, some is utterly hopelessly under-rated
for even 240VAC. I've measured some, admittedly, low volume, Chinese
rubbish, where power transformer saturation occured at 200VAC.