Back in the early 70’s the chief electrical engineer at our transformer design 
and manufacturing company related a story that detailed the disastrous results 
of a mismatch between the electrical grid and a small hydroelectric generator 
in upstate New York. IIRC it occurred between WWII and the Korean war, back 
when the frequencies were matched by hand. They had analog meters.

As the first hand story was told to me, an inattentive tech connected the small 
hydro plant without precisely matching the frequency. The “small” generator 
(several tons in weight) was thrown off it’s mounts and out of the building in 
its attempt to sync with the grid.

I bet there was a lot of paperwork after that screw up.

Martin DeYoung
Calypso
1971 C&C 43
Port Ludlow/Seattle

On Nov 22, 2021, at 9:26 AM, Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List 
<[email protected]> wrote:


The frequency should be 60 Hz, period. The way the power grid works would cause 
an emergency disconnect of your local generator from the grid if it gets off of 
60 or a disconnect of your grid ties to the wider world. The results of not 
doing this can include your local power plant physically coming apart.
If you saw a low frequency from a shore power connection something is very 
wrong somewhere. The only readings I have ever seen from shore power are 59.9, 
60, and 60.1.
(A very quick explanation, any generator is a motor and vice-vera. Commercial 
power plants are all connected together, so if one gets out of synch all the 
other ones can try and force it to do something like speed way up or turn the 
other direction, which would have disastrous results for anyone standing near 
it)

The company that made your meter is here:
Brighton Electronics
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
503-624-7116<tel:503-624-7116>
866-837-8371<tel:866-837-8371>

I bet if you give them a call they can point you at a place to get another one.

From: Bill Coleman via CnC-List <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2021 11:46 AM
To: 'Stus-List' <[email protected]>
Cc: Bill Coleman <[email protected]>
Subject: Stus-List Re: [EXTERNAL] Digital Panel Meter

If it is there, I would like it working, is all.
It was interesting to watch the progress of the Frequency coming back up, along 
with volts, as I was trying to bring life into four large, nearly dead 
batteries at Jabins a few years ago – took a few days, pulling through a 150 
foot extension cord on the hard.
I just thought if someone had replaced a similar volt or ammeter they might 
have a good source. Have not had much luck on Flea Bay.


Bill Coleman
Entrada, Erie, PA



There are tons and tons of them on Amazon and FleaBay, but matching the size is 
tricky. Also note that a frequency meter for shore power is a bit odd, what are 
you going to do if it is wrong? Call the power company?
99% of the time I see them on boats with generators or sometimes boats that 
travel to places that might have 50Hz power.


Joe Della Barba
Coquina



Does anyone have a source for the Panel Meters, specifically a frequency meter 
for shore power? The manufacturer is Brighton Electronics, altho still around, 
They don't seem to sell retail. The Cutout hole is 2 3/8" x 15/16" ( 60 mm X 
23.8).

<image001.jpg>





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