wrote:


You have a choice. In his hypothetical case of several homes sharing
a transformer, you can either design for worst case or ignore it. The
latter could very well result in the transformer overloading and the
homes being without power.

As with any other big addition of power using equipment, you let the power Cc.
know what you are doing (By getting a permit?) The transformer problem is then
their responsibility. At least that was what I was told when I added a hot tub
years ago.

On Feb 16, 11:00*am, "Bob F" wrote:
wrote:

You have a choice. * In his hypothetical case of several homes sharing
a transformer, you can either design for worst case or ignore it. *The
latter could very well result in the transformer overloading and the
homes being without power.

As with any other big addition of power using equipment, you let the power Cc.
know what you are doing (By getting a permit?) The transformer problem is then
their responsibility. At least that was what I was told when I added a hot tub
years ago.


You're the first residential user that I ever heard of that notified
the power company because they were installing a hot tub. In the
rest of the residential world, no one is keeping track of what loads
get added. You put in a 200amp service and that's the end of the
story. If you need more capacity, THEN you call the electric company
and upgrade to 300amps.

You have a choice. * In his hypothetical case of several homes sharing
a transformer, you can either design for worst case or ignore it. *The
latter could very well result in the transformer overloading and the
homes being without power.


It puts me in awe of the power of gasoline when you consider that the
equivalent POWER flow through an ordinary filling station hose at the
gas station when you fill up your car is measured in MEGAWATTS!!!

Mark

On Feb 16, 12:38*pm, Mark wrote:
You have a choice. * In his hypothetical case of several homes sharing
a transformer, you can either design for worst case or ignore it. *The
latter could very well result in the transformer overloading and the
homes being without power.

It puts me in awe of the power of gasoline when you consider that the
equivalent POWER flow through an ordinary filling station hose at the
gas station when you fill up your car is measured in MEGAWATTS!!!

Mark

Right now it's not an even comparison. But I think you'll all agree
we're closer to the end of reasonably priced gas than we are from the
beginning. No matter how much you think is left it's definitely a
finite resource. On the other hand there are all sorts of potential
new sources of electricity. Many that are of limited practicality
right now have potential to become more practical either because of
technology improvements or just volume increase. Most are "green" and
do not add to the carbon dioxide load. Like it or not the days of
gasoline powered transportation are numbered.

jamesgangnc wrote:

Right now it's not an even comparison. But I think you'll all agree
we're closer to the end of reasonably priced gas than we are from the
beginning. No matter how much you think is left it's definitely a
finite resource.

The SUN is a finite resource!

Just yesterday:

"HOUSTON - ExxonMobil Corp. added two billion barrels of oil equivalent to
its proved oil and gas reserves in 2009, or 133 per cent of its production
for that year, the largest U.S. oil company said Tuesday..."
http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...#ixzz0fnNPrPNg

That is, Exxon FOUND a third more oil than they recovered.




On the other hand there are all sorts of potential
new sources of electricity. Many that are of limited practicality
right now have potential to become more practical either because of
technology improvements or just volume increase. Most are "green" and
do not add to the carbon dioxide load. Like it or not the days of
gasoline powered transportation are numbered.

I agree. If you had asked the average New Yorker in 1910 what would
transportation be like in a hundred years, with a population increase of
five-fold, he'd have probably wondered a) Where would we get enough horses,
and b) What would we do with all the horse ****.

I'm personally rooting for teleportation.

wrote:
On Feb 16, 11:00 am, "Bob F" wrote:
wrote:

You have a choice. In his hypothetical case of several homes sharing
a transformer, you can either design for worst case or ignore it.
The latter could very well result in the transformer overloading
and the homes being without power.

As with any other big addition of power using equipment, you let the
power Cc. know what you are doing (By getting a permit?) The
transformer problem is then their responsibility. At least that was
what I was told when I added a hot tub years ago.


You're the first residential user that I ever heard of that notified
the power company because they were installing a hot tub. In the
rest of the residential world, no one is keeping track of what loads
get added. You put in a 200amp service and that's the end of the
story. If you need more capacity, THEN you call the electric company
and upgrade to 300amps.

So no one you know gets an electrical permit when adding a major circuit?

On Feb 16, 7:26*pm, "Bob F" wrote:
wrote:
On Feb 16, 11:00 am, "Bob F" wrote:
wrote:

You have a choice. In his hypothetical case of several homes sharing
a transformer, you can either design for worst case or ignore it.
The latter could very well result in the transformer overloading
and the homes being without power.

As with any other big addition of power using equipment, you let the
power Cc. know what you are doing (By getting a permit?) The
transformer problem is then their responsibility. At least that was
what I was told when I added a hot tub years ago.

You're the first residential user that I ever heard of that notified
the power company because they were installing a hot tub. * In the
rest of the residential world, no one is keeping track of what loads
get added. *You put in a 200amp service and that's the end of the
story. *If you need more capacity, THEN you call the electric company
and upgrade to 300amps.

So no one you know gets an electrical permit when adding a major circuit?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You get permit for electrical work from the local municipality. They
usually charge a fee and send out an inspector to make sure the work
is done according to code. What does any of that have to do with
your claim that the power company routinely gets notified when you add
a large residential load like a hot tub? Please provide a cite for
that. I'd also welcome hearing from anyone else here that notified
the power company that they were adding a hot tub or similar load.
You notify the power company when you need an upgrade in the service
capacity to the house.