Any PSO contacts?

[brunoflipper]

Msg sent

[heironymouspasparagus]

I didn't measure the voltage with my meter.  Instead, I used a voltage probe from Klein Tools.  It senses AC from 50 to 1000 volts.  This tool is about the size of a fat fountain pen and it's handy around the house.

Get a real voltmeter.  They are cheap.  Just make sure that is says 750VAC/1000VDC and Cat III on the front.  (Cat II at the VERY minimum!!)  I got one at Harbor Freight when they opened a new store in Norman a couple years ago for about $5.00.  Normal price should be less than $25 even from someone like Lowes or Home Depot.

Second, you are probably ok through the winter with that rig until air conditioning season.  Or is that stuff even still connected??


The two legs coming in are 110 vac each, and a return line - no 480 vac anywhere there.  The green box on the ground has the main transformer for usually 4 houses.  The primary into that box is gonna be something over 7,000 volts and 3 phase going through the neighborhood.  The transformer primary should connect from one of those phases to ground to get the 220 vac single phase into the house (two 110's).  Sometimes a single phase transformer will be connected from phase to phase, but I don't think PSO does that for most residential - another "can't remember" for sure.

[sgrizzle]

I believe this issue is resolved now.

[Ed W]

I believe this issue is resolved now.

Yep.  Someone came by to retrieve the service saver today.  I started work at 4AM and when I arrived at home I fell asleep within a few minutes.  Voices outside the bedroom window woke me for a moment, but I was asleep again almost immediately.  When nap time ended, I went outside to find the equipment was gone.

My thanks to you and all others who offered to help.

[Breadburner]

TNF...."Works for You".....

[Teatownclown]

I compared my gas bill and PSO going back several years. Last December (2010) and Jan. (11) were on par with this year which has been substantially warmer. I hear that across the country our power companies have been charging higher rates despite Nat Gas being at historic low prices.... anyone know why?

[Townsend]

I compared my gas bill and PSO going back several years. Last December (2010) and Jan. (11) were on par with this year which has been substantially warmer. I hear that across the country our power companies have been charging higher rates despite Nat Gas being at historic low prices.... anyone know why?

Profit?

[Teatownclown]

That's called push profit.... unjustifiable.

[Townsend]

That's called push profit.... unjustifiable.

Never said it was justified.  I assumed it was the same as gas prices going up while oil goes down.  Because they can.

[sgrizzle]

I compared my gas bill and PSO going back several years. Last December (2010) and Jan. (11) were on par with this year which has been substantially warmer. I hear that across the country our power companies have been charging higher rates despite Nat Gas being at historic low prices.... anyone know why?

The utility rates are regulated and gas charges are separated, with those charges based on projected prices and contracted rates. Neither get to just choose prices at will.

[Ed W]

Get a real voltmeter.  They are cheap.  Just make sure that is says 750VAC/1000VDC and Cat III on the front.  (Cat II at the VERY minimum!!)

I use a Fluke 87 at work and a knockoff at home.  There's a couple of analog meters out in the garage, too, including a Simpson 260 that's still a fine meter despite its age.  But a simple voltage probe is a convenient go/no-go tool, much like the old neon lamp probes but without the electrocution hazard.  I still have one of those probes that I picked up over seas.  I think they're illegal for sale here. 

[Red Arrow]

There's a couple of analog meters out in the garage, too, including a Simpson 260 that's still a fine meter despite its age. 

I have a 260 and a 270 that my dad left to me.  I also repaired and calibrated Simpson 260s (and many other makes and models up through rack mount digital meters) in the Cal Lab in the Navy.  The only real problem with the Simpsons was when someone measured 110VAC on the RX1 scale.  The first time it wasn't too bad because the fuse protected it.  The second time, after the 1A fuse was replaced with a 10A slow blow fuse (unauthorized of course), the meter movement needed to be replaced.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I use a Fluke 87 at work and a knockoff at home.  There's a couple of analog meters out in the garage, too, including a Simpson 260 that's still a fine meter despite its age.  But a simple voltage probe is a convenient go/no-go tool, much like the old neon lamp probes but without the electrocution hazard.  I still have one of those probes that I picked up over seas.  I think they're illegal for sale here.  

Nothing better than a 260!  Used to have one, had a very hard life, so got rid of the pieces...  have been keeping an eye out for another one at garage sales and antique shops.

110 on R - yep.  Toaster.


I have an old 8020B that has been great for a long, long time.  Also have a couple of cheapies for knocking around the garage so don't mess up the good one.

[Conan71]

I compared my gas bill and PSO going back several years. Last December (2010) and Jan. (11) were on par with this year which has been substantially warmer. I hear that across the country our power companies have been charging higher rates despite Nat Gas being at historic low prices.... anyone know why?

Did they not have some sort of recent adjustment to pay for power plant upgrades or some such thing?  I've noticed my electric bill has been higher this winter over last winter.

[Ed W]

Nothing better than a 260!  Used to have one, had a very hard life, so got rid of the pieces...  have been keeping an eye out for another one at garage sales and antique shops.

110 on R - yep.  Toaster.


I have an old 8020B that has been great for a long, long time.  Also have a couple of cheapies for knocking around the garage so don't mess up the good one.

We used to get surplussed 260s and Triplett meters from AA when I was in the radio club.  We sold them at the hamfest for a few bucks.  I suspect most are gone now, and only a few are left in the shops.  Still, you might find some at the hamfest later this year.