This is only a preview of the April 1994 issue of Silicon Chip. You can view 28 of the 96 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments. For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues. Articles in this series:
Items relevant to "Remote Control Extender For VCRs":
Items relevant to "Sound & Lights For Level Crossings":
Items relevant to "Discrete Dual Supply Voltage Regulator":
Items relevant to "Low-Noise Universal Stereo Preamplifier":
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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Leo Simpson, B.Bus.
Editor
Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.)
Technical Staff
John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.)
Robert Flynn
Darren Yates, B.Sc.
Reader Services
Ann Jenkinson
Sharon Macdonald
Marketing Manager
Sharon Lightner
Phone (02) 979 5644
Mobile phone (018) 28 5532
Regular Contributors
Brendan Akhurst
Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
Marque Crozman, VK2ZLZ
John Hill
Jim Lawler, MTETIA
Bryan Maher, M.E., B.Sc.
Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW
Jim Yalden, VK2YGY
Bob Young
Photography
Stuart Bryce
SILICON CHIP is published 12 times
a year by Silicon Chip Publications
Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All
material copyright ©. No part of
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without the written consent of the
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PUBLISHER'S LETTER
Should we reduce our
mains voltage to 230V?
Recently, there have been moves afoot to
standardise much of the Western world’s
electricity supplies, transformers, machines
and appliances. If Australia goes along with
it, our domestic mains voltage would be reduced from a nominal 240 to 230 volts AC.
This suggestion came originally from the
International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC) in 1983.
As far as Europe is concerned, the move to
standardise on 230 volts, or any other figure for that matter, is probably a good
one. Presently, Europe has a range of mains voltages – 220, 230 and 240 volts –
and it makes sense to standardise on the one voltage in the long term. Britain,
which now uses 240 volts, is going along with the idea but the USA, as is their
usual conservative stance in these matters, will stick with its 110 volts at 60Hz.
However, any suggestion that Australia should automatically follow Europe
should be treated with cynicism. Dr David Sweeting, chairman of the Australian Institute of Engineering’s 230-volt working group, is quoted in the Sydney
Morning Herald (March 5th, 1994) as saying “It is going to improve the opportunities for the electrical equipment we produce, opening up the world to our
industry”. Oh really!
Let’s face it, any Australian manufacturer who wants to export is already
meeting the standards of world markets or they should be. If they want to sell a
product in an overseas market, it has to meet the standards of that market and
it will not make one whit of difference whether Australia has the same electrical standard or not. On the other hand, it might make it easier and cheaper for
importers of electrical equipment and, heaven knows, Australian manufacturers don’t need any more competition from imports. In virtually every field of
endeavour, Australian manufacturers have heavy competition from aggressive
importers. Do we really want to make it easier for the importers and thereby put
our balance of payments in even more jeopardy?
Remember also that if we change to 230 volts AC for domestic use that automatically means a change to the 3-phase distribution standard of 415 volts AC
to 397 volts. So all the equipment designed to run at 415 volts will be slightly
less efficient, as will 230 volt equipment. The 230-volt working group referred
to above estimates the reduction would add about 0.5% to the cost of electricity.
I would question that figure too.
If the voltage is reduced by a nominal 5% from 240 to 230VAC, the I2R losses
in the distribution system will be more like 10%. And when you consider that
a great deal of the domestic distribution network actually runs at 250 volts AC
or more, the distribution losses would be more like 15% if the change was fair
dinkum. That is a huge cost to Australia, for the doubtful benefit of being in line
with a European standard.
I could go on poking holes in the argument but I think I’ve made the point.
Should we reduce our mains voltage to 230 volts AC? We’d like to hear from you.
Leo Simpson
ISSN 1030-2662
WARNING!
SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should
be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the
instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with
mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages,
you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed
or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON
CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of
any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government
regulations and by-laws.
Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Trade Practices Act
1974 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable.
2 Silicon Chip
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