Electricity fluctuations


I live close to the end of the lines at a rural set-up, I have 100' underground cable coming to my house. I installed a 20amp circuit and an 8 gage 35' dedicated line to my stereo. I get current fluctuations that I could not detect through the voltage indicator of my PS 300. I run various air cleaning filters in the house and I hear them slowing down and accelerating intermitently but what bothers me is that I can't use my turtables' power supply (VPI, SDS) at the recomended lowest voltage of 72 volts because the motor stalls. The power company tells me to check the cable that comes in my house but then when I operate the turntable late at night, after 12pm it runs okay at 72volts. It is mostly during peak hours that it stalls. The SDS is plugued in a PS 300. Can anybody tell me what to do to corect this problem? I am handy but not too technically educated.
tphalieros

Showing 1 response by lwatson

assuming your main panel and associated incoming cabling are appropriately sized for the loads you have then you should not experience more than a 10% voltage swing under "normal" circumstances for your local utility.
if you have a multimeter you should record incoming line voltage at various times. if you are experiencing voltage swings like you described (~40%) there is no utility in the country that isn't legally bound to correct the problem (assuming you don't have the problem).
if these conditions existed since installation then a severely overloaded transformer may be the problem. if it is a problem that has developed over time then i would suspect something is failing. it is not uncommon for overhead lines that are run through trees to eventually have a limb contact the line and through wind action eventually rub away the insulation in one spot and cause voltage fluctuations. the utility can verify the integrity of the incoming lines with a simple megger test.
call the utility and see if you get an appropriate response. if not then definately put it all in writing and send a certified letter.