Power-grid experiment could confuse electric clocks

MSNBC ^ | June 24, 2011 | Seth Borenstein

[John W]

WASHINGTON — A yearlong experiment with America's electric grid could mess up traffic lights, security systems and some computers — and make plug-in clocks and appliances like programmable coffeemakers run up to 20 minutes fast.

The group that oversees the U.S. power grid is proposing an experiment that would allow more frequency variation than it does now without corrections, according to a company presentation obtained by The Associated Press.

Officials say they want to try this to make the power supply more reliable, save money and reduce what may be needless efforts. The test is tentatively set to start in mid-July, but that could change.

[ansel12]

It must be true, look at the freerepublic clock compared to your computer.

[6SJ7]

The group that oversees the U.S. power grid is proposing an experiment that would allow more frequency variation than it does now without corrections, according to a company presentation obtained by The Associated Press. Officials say they want to try this to make the power supply more reliable, save money and reduce what may be needless efforts.

In Newspeak, random uncorrected frequency variations equals more reliable.

[Crim]

Rushing to third world status.

[factoryrat]

Oh great! The AC line frequency in the US has been 60HZ since the beginning of time. Do these people realize how many devices and processes will be screwed up by this? A lot of machinery relies on induction motors who’s running speed is reliant on line frequency.

[John W]

Thats what I was thinking when I posted this, unless I’m missing something.

[Moonman62]

According to the article the maximum variation would be about 14 seconds a day.

[MurrietaMadman]

Thanks for one more late night opportunity to share...

http://www.augustreview.com/issues/technocracy/technocracy_endgame:_global_smart_grid_20110609169/

[John W]

Right, but, the point is if you have a motor chosen for an application-and there are an almost infinite number of different applications-and you’ve chosen one that runs at 1770 RPM because that is exactly what you need for that application and everything involved is set for that requirement, with this “experiment” that could apparently vary at any given moment-I think. It seems to me its more complicated than a bunch of messed up clocks.

[factoryrat]

I’m thinking their idea is that they want to boost the line voltage to compensate for I2R loses caused by peak demand. The only way they can do that without changing the infrastucture is to run their alternators at a higher speed, which up’s the line frequency. This doesn’t affect most electronic devices because they use various DC power supplies, along with internal timebases.

[unkus]

Maybe they’ll inadvertently cause a huge black-out.

[Smokin' Joe]

Okay....

Been there, done that. Oil rigs have their own light plants, generators which provide power for the drill site.

In the past, when those were not necessarily kept up to snuff, we had variations in the frequency of power provided. Which means electric motors wore out far quicker, (from the large motors that ran pumps, right down to the little motors which ran chart drives on gas monitoring equipment. On occasion, the power was so bad, electronic devices would not function.

Now they want to do this to the grid?

Which means your home goodies won’t function as advertised, aqnd their lifespan will be shortened, from your furnace blower and air conditioner, refrigerator, washer, dryer, right down to the little pump that blows bubbles in your fish tank.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the link. This smart grid had “ultimate control” written all over it as far as I was concerned. Glad to see someone out there has this pegged for what it is.

[az_gila]

I’m thinking their idea is that they want to boost the line voltage to compensate for I2R loses caused by peak demand. The only way they can do that without changing the infrastucture is to run their alternators at a higher speed, which up’s the line frequency. This doesn’t affect most electronic devices because they use various DC power supplies, along with internal timebases.

---

So the errors would always be in the same direction (clocks run fast) and would be cumulative?

[SatinDoll]

Smartgrid: I can’t think of a better reason to get OFF the grid.

Right now I do no use televisions for anything, not even viewing movies.

I’ve been thinking of getting rid of the land line, but cell phones are unattractive as an alternative.

I’m thinking of all kinds of ways to get away from my small town way of living.

[factoryrat]

Yes, if they rely on line frequency, they would run fast and gain time. Some appliances that have a digital clock (stoves, microwaves) DO use line frequency as as timebase. I found this out when I ran a microwave off a portable generator once. The countdown on the cooking timer went way faster than normal.

[Califreak]

Sounds like a job creation scam. We’ll have to consume more and pump more money into our failing economy.

[Smokin' Joe]

I think it is beyond that.

If industrial power is monkeyed with as well as residential, the effects could be devastating as MTBF cycles are accelerated, equipment fails prematurely and must be replaced.

What better way to further cripple an ailing economy than destroy the little engines which run it?

Not to mention the potential for damage to electronic systems which could cause chaos.

[factoryrat]

I hear that. I the plant I work in, you would not believe the carnage that is caused by something is simple as a brownout, even if it lasts a split second. I have spent hours recovering machine operations over that.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Hoo boy, the IEEE will be in their faces about this and for good reason. I do not know how these Obamonkeys figure they can horse around with the frequency and timing of residential power without touching industrial power. Of course, sites like hospitals that need super clean power will have motor generator units on site already, but if the driving motor is synced to the power line frequency even they will be scrod. This would be like an impromptu test for Y2K carried out in 1996.