1. Home
  2. ⏚ Electrical Engineering
  3. basic question about HID lamps and power issues

basic question about HID lamps and power issues

I've seen lots of discussion about the harmonics and other issues from HID lamps (or more properly, tehir power supplies).

When I was working at an ISP I noticed some very headachey readings when looking at the supply and neutrals for the racks, but we were well below the current ratings so left things as is.

Anyway... I know just enough about this to realize I don't know enough, so I figured I'd better ask a couple of questions even if they sound foolish.

In my residential building complex we've got about 1,000 apartments, and I doubt there's enough usage of CFLs or HIDs or switching power supplies to be a major issue.

However, we have a standalone muliti-story garage, which is illuminated 24 hrs/day by about 35 kw of high pressure sodium luminaires (with another 5 kw or so at night) getting fed via 3 phase AC. There's perhaps one or two addiotional kw of demand for some office equipment and (fluorescent) lighting. And a short occassional kw when opening/closing the garage doors.

This building is separately metered.

If I ask the utilty if the wave forms are screwing up the meter readings, would they laugh me out of the room? Is there any valid issue here?

Thanks.

Reply to
danny burstein
Loading thread data ...

xpost to a.e.e

Where are you? What type of meter (electro mechanical spinnig disk? electronic?) In what way do you think the meter is getting screwed up and why do you think this? What is the problem? How long has this been going on and has something changed? What's a typical monthly bill and what breakdown / other info is on it?

You can go ahead and ask the Utility about it. If your building demands so much harmonic current that it is screwing up the metering then you will probably be responsible for remedying the situation.

j
Reply to
operator jay
[ various snipppage ]

As I said, I was just begnning the checkout on this based on the rumblings I had seen posted.

There's nothing specific to point to just yet. I bascially just wanted to know whether it was worth taking some time to get more info (I'd have to convince the management of the complex to let me look around...) or whether I'd better use that time cleaning out my car.

That specific building - the garage - has a load that's almost entirely high pressure sodium fixtures, hence my curiousity.

Thanks

Reply to
danny burstein

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.