Members that would like to monitor the electric consumption of an individual 120-volt appliance may do so with an appliance test meter. These meters are safe and easy to use. They are available from the cooperative office, on a free loan basis only. Members are asked to call ahead to reserve a test meter. They can be picked up at the office and must be returned within 15 days. EMF and Stray Voltage In recent years, concern has developed about electromagnetic fields, commonly referred to as EMF. Electric fields are present whenever there is power on a conductor. Magnetic fields occur when there is energy being used by an appliance, motor, light, or other device. Free on-site testing is available to members who are concerned about EMF from their appliances, house wiring, or from overhead power lines. Stray voltage, or neutral to earth voltage, produces a tiny electrical shock that is felt by animals when contacting farmstead milking, feeding or watering equipment. Stray voltage may be due either to physical factors in the cooperative's power supply system or as the result of on-farm (secondary) conditions. It can also be attributed to a combination of these two sources. Free on-site testing for stray voltage and informational literature is available upon request. Installation of Secondary Surge Protectors Secondary surge protectors are available to members of Oakdale Electric Cooperative with single phase service. When requested, Oakdale Electric Cooperative will investigate for possible cause of the voltage surge. If it is determined that voltage surge could have originated from the cooperative's system and affects the member's equipment, this may constitute the installation of a secondary surge protector. If the member's grounding is determined to be adequate and the secondary surge protector can be effectively installed on the exterior meter socket, there will be no charge for the surge protector or its installation. If installation is not possible on the exterior meter socket, and the member requests protection, the member may purchase a secondary surge protector at the current price of the unit. If it is determined that additional grounding on the member's service is needed to effectively operated the surge protector, it shall be the member's responsibility to make such improvements. Protecting Home Computers and Electronics by Setting Traps for Power Gremlins Given the physical capability and design of electric power line distribution equipment, it is appropriate to expect the utility to furnish electricity within a specified and appropriate range of quality. However, to function properly, sophisticated electronics demand a working environment where the electric input is "cleaner" and more tightly controlled. A computer, for instance, will have a much narrower range of tolerance for fluctuations in the electrical input than your lights or table saw. In fairness, we should note that while many computers have some level of protection already built-in, it's not likely to be adequate protection against extreme chronic power disturbances. So, the question becomes one of electric housekeeping - devising ways to sweep out the power gremlins - to ensure power input of the quality needed and protect your investments from unforeseen power disturbances. To solve this dilemma, a wide range of protective devices has been designed to defend your electronic equipment's electrical home turf. But before we discuss these, let's take a good look at the electrical health of your home. More than likely, your home wiring will likely lack the site-wide surge protection and circuit breakers typically found in structures designed for corporate use. Look around your home and you'll also find a wide range of appliances and equipment that is likely to be used at one time or another while you are computing. High wattage household equipment, such as clothes dryers for instance, demand large levels of electricity, which may create sags on the power available to your computer equipment. Small power tools used in the garage introduce another form of interference. Even the equipment you use within your home office, like a laser printer or copy machine, can cause short term power lags. A potential culprit to power quality lurks in almost every room in the home. Individually or collectively, they spell trouble. Adding the appropriate protective device can thwart a devastating blow. To define which defense tactic is appropriate for your particular application, ask yourself these questions.
Surge suppressors act as a fast switch to divert electrical transients and equalize potential. Transients are very fast periods of higher than normal voltage and can result from a variety of internal or external causes. Surge suppressors protect against catastrophic transient events like lightning strikes. They protect hardware, but not necessarily data. In order for them to work properly, surge protectors require a correctly wired and grounded outlet. They are not designed to save energy. Also be aware that some surge suppressors will continue to let power through, even after circuits have been damaged, exposing your equipment to other damaging surges. Voltage regulators solve chronic high or low voltage problems. In effect, they smooth out the surges or sags of the input power. They will not stop transients, nor provide outage protection. Standby power units supply limited back up power to small electronic loads. But their switching time may not be compatible with all electronic equipment. You may get an unfavorable reaction by a computer that interprets a period of zero voltage lasting only 120th of a second as a power outage. They also do not provide transient protection. The ultimate protective device is an uniterruptible power supply unit, or UPS. Not only does the UPS kick in when the AC power goes off, it offers complete protection against all types of power gremlins. It conditions the power coming into your equipment, and provides the opportunity for an orderly shut down should an outage occur.
When considering the purchase of protective devices, don't forget to lock the backdoor. Unprotected modem, fax and phone lines are open invitation for transients to enter.
Oakdale Electric Cooperative offers, for sale to members, UPS Patriot Stand-By Power Systems manufactured by Best, Necedah. In addition, we've assembled protection packages
that include the very best equipment from a variety of manufacturers. The result is the best available surge protection for your whole home at a very affordable price.
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What is Oakdale Electric Cooperative?
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Electricity: Its Use in the Home, Farm or Business
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