Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-11 Thread Ow Mun Heng
On Fri, 2006-08-11 at 15:07 -0700, Richard Fish wrote:
> On 8/11/06, Dale <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > We here would likely be better off if we did use 220v like other
> > countries but it would take us years to convert things over.
> 
> Yep, and we would have to start by converting to plugs that didn't
> encourage us to electrocute ourselves every time we plug in our
> laptops!

coming from a country where you have to explicitly switch on the plugs
just so that 
electricity _will_ flow, seeing the US styled plugs really frigthens me.

I wonder how this passed through OHSA inspections.
-- 
Ow Mun Heng <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-11 Thread Richard Fish

On 8/11/06, Dale <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

We here would likely be better off if we did use 220v like other
countries but it would take us years to convert things over.


Yep, and we would have to start by converting to plugs that didn't
encourage us to electrocute ourselves every time we plug in our
laptops!

-Richard
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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-11 Thread Alan Mckinnon
On Fri, 2006-08-11 at 13:44 +0200, Naga wrote:
> On Friday 11 August 2006 13:26, Alan Mckinnon wrote:

> > The current drawn through a conductor (in this case a live body) is
> > determined by the voltage, and the resistance of the body itself.
> 
> And in this case the surface that the body is in contact with.
> 
> I other words don't stand in water when you get the shock (but rubber shoes 
> should work) :)

On a side note, when I was still fixing things for a living I used to
demonstrate to new trainees how current flow actually worked by
deliberately touching the mains live on a running tv set in complete
safety. Very very very few of them figured it out :-) The secret:

- use one finger of one hand
- wooden workbench
- shoes

alan


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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-11 Thread Naga
On Friday 11 August 2006 13:26, Alan Mckinnon wrote:
> On Fri, 2006-08-11 at 12:24 +0200, Nagatoro wrote:
> > Herman Grootaers wrote:
> > > On Friday 11 August 2006 11:22, Hamish Marson wrote:
> > >> All-in-all I prefer 240V single phase.
> > >
> > > So do I, although in itself that voltage is deadly
> >
> > When combined with a high enough current...
>
> The current drawn through a conductor (in this case a live body) is
> determined by the voltage, and the resistance of the body itself.

And in this case the surface that the body is in contact with.

I other words don't stand in water when you get the shock (but rubber shoes 
should work) :)

-- 
Naga
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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-11 Thread Alan Mckinnon
On Fri, 2006-08-11 at 12:24 +0200, Nagatoro wrote:
> Herman Grootaers wrote:
> > On Friday 11 August 2006 11:22, Hamish Marson wrote:
> >> All-in-all I prefer 240V single phase.
> > 
> > So do I, although in itself that voltage is deadly
> 
> When combined with a high enough current...

The current drawn through a conductor (in this case a live body) is
determined by the voltage, and the resistance of the body itself. Basic,
elementary Ohms law. A live body will draw something in the order of 100
mA from 240V ac (assuming the power source can deliver that current, we
can assume it will as this is mains after all).

The point is that even if the power station can generate 14 brazillion
quadrillion amps and the wires to your house can carry it without
melting, you will still only have 100mA going through your body if you
happen to get shocked.

The power source delivers the volts and th4e sink doesn't get to change
that. The sink draws the current and the source doesn't get to change
that.

alan


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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-11 Thread Nagatoro

Herman Grootaers wrote:

On Friday 11 August 2006 11:22, Hamish Marson wrote:

All-in-all I prefer 240V single phase.


So do I, although in itself that voltage is deadly


When combined with a high enough current...

--
Naga
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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-11 Thread Dale
Hamish Marson wrote:
> Dale wrote:
> >> Mike Williams wrote:
> >>> On Thursday 03 August 2006 19:27, James wrote:
> >>>
>  The simplist solution is NOBODY puts a 240 VAC power supply
>  into a computer unless it's going to draw some serious current
>  (amps) thus by the nature of it being 240 VAC, you already know
>   it is a power hog.
> 
> >>> Now, I'm not electrical engineer, but I know my way around a fuse
> >>> board and electricity having fitted out both our new offices for
> >>> power, network, and some walls.
> >>>
> >>> In the UK, and most (if not all) of Europe, Africa, and Asia too,
> >>> run on about 240 volts, 230 +-10% I think now. Pretty much the
> >>> whole world, except the Americas.
> >>>
> >>>
> >> Well, the USA has the same coming in too.  We have 220v to 240v
> >> coming in but that is split into different legs for the 110v to
> >> 120v stuff.
> >>
>
> Unless those two legs are in phase, you're still only getting
> 110V-120V AC. IIRC (And it's from 20 years ago I'm working here) it's
> not, it's just two legs of the 3 phase generated power. Which means
> they're 120 deg out of phase, and so you still only get 110-120V. In
> order to get 220-240V, you'd need 3 phase power.
>
> I suspect you get two 110V lines because of current limitations. Not
> to provide you with 220V which you'r enot going to get from just
> adding two out of phase lines. (Unless of course the US has wired up
> two in-phase separate 110V lines. In which case you can get 220V outof
> it, but I seem to remember a lecture in Eng Sci saying it was common
> to take 2 of 3 phases to a house in the US & alternate which 2 between
> successive houses.

The two lines are out of phase.  Here, big things like air conditioners,
stoves, dryers and central heat run off the 220 or 240v wires.  Small
things like lights, hair dryers, fans and even small window air
conditioners run off the 110 or 120v lines.  In most places here, 3
phase is not available unless you are in a area that has large factories
or are in a city.  Here the black and white wires are 120v, the red and
black wires are 220 or 240v.  Also note, you can tell the power company
which one you want when you get them to put up your pole.  We had 220v
for years.  When the transformer went out I asked for 240V.  With a
light load we actually get about 248v or so.  When something like the
A/C turns on it will drop to about 240v or so.  It stays pretty stable
after that though.  Keep in mind that light bulbs blow faster at the
higher voltage.  At the same time A/C compressors run a lot more efficient.
>
> >> If you are using transformers to reduce it from 220v to 110v, that
> >> will waste some energy right there.  Transformers are not real
> >> efficient.  If you touch it and it is warm, that is what you are
> >> wasting.  That will also make whatever you are cooling with work
> >> harder too.
> >>
>
> Plus you need twice the current at 110V vs 220V. (Volts are big 'V'
> BTW! Named after Voltaire). This means higher line losses as loss is
> proportional to current. Higher line losses mean that cable length
> becomes more of a problem. (A 10V drop in 240V is less than 5%. 10V
> drop in 120V is almost 10%. Much more significant).
>
> All-in-all I prefer 240V single phase.
>
> H

As far as being efficient with power usage, me two.  I have a friend
that uses some heavy equipment and some of them are 480v.  They put out
a lot more horsepower but they run very cool because the current draw is
so small. 

We here would likely be better off if we did use 220v like other
countries but it would take us years to convert things over. 

Dale
:-) 
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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-11 Thread Herman Grootaers
On Friday 11 August 2006 11:22, Hamish Marson wrote:
> Dale wrote:
> > Mike Williams wrote:
> >> On Thursday 03 August 2006 19:27, James wrote:
> >>> The simplist solution is NOBODY puts a 240 VAC power supply
> >>> into a computer unless it's going to draw some serious current
> >>> (amps) thus by the nature of it being 240 VAC, you already know
> >>>  it is a power hog.
> >>
> >> Now, I'm not electrical engineer, but I know my way around a fuse
> >> board and electricity having fitted out both our new offices for
> >> power, network, and some walls.
> >>
> >> In the UK, and most (if not all) of Europe, Africa, and Asia too,
> >> run on about 240 volts, 230 +-10% I think now. Pretty much the
> >> whole world, except the Americas.
> >
> > Well, the USA has the same coming in too.  We have 220v to 240v
> > coming in but that is split into different legs for the 110v to
> > 120v stuff.
>
> Unless those two legs are in phase, you're still only getting
> 110V-120V AC. IIRC (And it's from 20 years ago I'm working here) it's
> not, it's just two legs of the 3 phase generated power. Which means
> they're 120 deg out of phase, and so you still only get 110-120V. In
> order to get 220-240V, you'd need 3 phase power.

Safer to use a transformer 110V-220V which will lessen the danger of 
playing with two or three live wires, a misconnection can cause an 
outage with all sorts of problems generated, died disks and other 
apparatus.

> I suspect you get two 110V lines because of current limitations. Not
> to provide you with 220V which you'r enot going to get from just
> adding two out of phase lines. (Unless of course the US has wired up
> two in-phase separate 110V lines. In which case you can get 220V
> outof it, but I seem to remember a lecture in Eng Sci saying it was
> common to take 2 of 3 phases to a house in the US & alternate which 2
> between successive houses.
>
> > If you are using transformers to reduce it from 220v to 110v, that
> > will waste some energy right there.  Transformers are not real
> > efficient.  If you touch it and it is warm, that is what you are
> > wasting.  That will also make whatever you are cooling with work
> > harder too.
>
> Plus you need twice the current at 110V vs 220V. (Volts are big 'V'
> BTW! Named after Voltaire). 

Sorry, the french writer Voltaire was not dabbling in science. It was 
Alessandro Guiseppe Antonio Volta who detected the reaction of 
different metals on the muscles of a hindlegs of a frog and build the 
first electric battery from that detection.

> This means higher line losses as loss is proportional to current.
> Higher line losses mean that cable length becomes more of a problem.
> (A 10V drop in 240V is less than 5%. 10V drop in 120V is almost 10%.
> Much more significant).   
>
> All-in-all I prefer 240V single phase.
>

So do I, although in itself that voltage is deadly
-- 
Herman Grootaers
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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-11 Thread Hamish Marson
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
Hash: SHA1

Dale wrote:
> Mike Williams wrote:
>> On Thursday 03 August 2006 19:27, James wrote:
>>
>>> The simplist solution is NOBODY puts a 240 VAC power supply
>>> into a computer unless it's going to draw some serious current
>>> (amps) thus by the nature of it being 240 VAC, you already know
>>>  it is a power hog.
>>>
>> Now, I'm not electrical engineer, but I know my way around a fuse
>> board and electricity having fitted out both our new offices for
>> power, network, and some walls.
>>
>> In the UK, and most (if not all) of Europe, Africa, and Asia too,
>> run on about 240 volts, 230 +-10% I think now. Pretty much the
>> whole world, except the Americas.
>>
>>
>
> Well, the USA has the same coming in too.  We have 220v to 240v
> coming in but that is split into different legs for the 110v to
> 120v stuff.
>

Unless those two legs are in phase, you're still only getting
110V-120V AC. IIRC (And it's from 20 years ago I'm working here) it's
not, it's just two legs of the 3 phase generated power. Which means
they're 120 deg out of phase, and so you still only get 110-120V. In
order to get 220-240V, you'd need 3 phase power.

I suspect you get two 110V lines because of current limitations. Not
to provide you with 220V which you'r enot going to get from just
adding two out of phase lines. (Unless of course the US has wired up
two in-phase separate 110V lines. In which case you can get 220V outof
it, but I seem to remember a lecture in Eng Sci saying it was common
to take 2 of 3 phases to a house in the US & alternate which 2 between
successive houses.

> If you are using transformers to reduce it from 220v to 110v, that
> will waste some energy right there.  Transformers are not real
> efficient.  If you touch it and it is warm, that is what you are
> wasting.  That will also make whatever you are cooling with work
> harder too.
>

Plus you need twice the current at 110V vs 220V. (Volts are big 'V'
BTW! Named after Voltaire). This means higher line losses as loss is
proportional to current. Higher line losses mean that cable length
becomes more of a problem. (A 10V drop in 240V is less than 5%. 10V
drop in 120V is almost 10%. Much more significant).

All-in-all I prefer 240V single phase.

H
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[gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-04 Thread Remy Blank
Ted Ozolins wrote:
> Well you almost got it right.  The clamp is just a basic transformer
> being the secondary winding. Since AC current flow changes both in
> amplitude and direction, induces a current flow in the secondary
> winding, "the clamp". The current is then rectified and the measurement
> then is displayed on a meter.  I've used high voltage transformers from
> old monitors to monitor and trigger alarms signaling excessive current
> change. Basically just a home made clamp.

This is getting really OT, but as far as I remember my electricity
lectures, what you describe is a current transformer. For it to work
somewhat reliably, you have to wind the wire to be measured around a
ferrite core, which already has a secondary winding where the current is
measured. And yes, it only works for AC currents.

The clamps we use (which are admittedly in the higher price range)
measure the magnetic field directly using Hall-effect sensors, and also
work for DC currents. The nice thing with this measurement principle is
that it is independent of the placement of the clamp relative to the
wire. It just has to go through the clamp.

I couldn't find a nice explanation of the measurement principle, but
here's at least something:

  http://support.fluke.com/find-sales/Download/Asset/1989065_A_w.pdf

-- Remy


Remove underscore and suffix in reply address for a timely response.

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-04 Thread Ted Ozolins
Remy Blank wrote:

>Iain Buchanan wrote:
>  
>
>>um, I just came across a problem - it won't work with an AC power cord,
>>because you have active and neutral both going through the clamp in
>>opposite directions, hence they'll cancel each other out.  You need only
>>the active going through the clamp...
>>
>>
>
>Or only the neutral. It doesn't matter, actually.
>
>  
>
>>But "how it works" (with AC) is something like this:  AC produces a
>>field around the wire as it "flows".  This field in turn will induce a
>>current in a wire placed close to it.  Loop a wire (transducer) around
>>another wire (AC current flow), and you can inference the change in
>>current in the original wire by measuring the current flow in the loop.
>>
>>It doesn't work with DC, as DC doesn't create a field (at least, not
>>when it's steady.  When switching on and off a DC device, you'll still
>>get a change in current)
>>
>>IANAE(lectrician), so this might be complete bunkum, but that's how I
>>remember it anyway.
>>
>>
>
>You almost got it. Actually, it's not necessary that the current be AC:
>even a DC current produces a magnetic field around the conductor (albeit
>a DC field). The clamp is a ferromagnetic ring that "concentrates" the
>magnetic field, and it is interrupted at one location by a hall-effect
>sensor that measures the magnetic field. The current can be calculated
>from the magnetic field intensity and the diameter of the clamp ring.
>
>-- Remy
>
>
>Remove underscore and suffix in reply address for a timely response.
>
>  
>
Well you almost got it right.  The clamp is just a basic transformer
being the secondary winding. Since AC current flow changes both in
amplitude and direction, induces a current flow in the secondary
winding, "the clamp". The current is then rectified and the measurement
then is displayed on a meter.  I've used high voltage transformers from
old monitors to monitor and trigger alarms signaling excessive current
change. Basically just a home made clamp.

Cheers.

-- 
Ted Ozolins(VE7TVO)
Westbank, B. C

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[gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-04 Thread Remy Blank
Iain Buchanan wrote:
> um, I just came across a problem - it won't work with an AC power cord,
> because you have active and neutral both going through the clamp in
> opposite directions, hence they'll cancel each other out.  You need only
> the active going through the clamp...

Or only the neutral. It doesn't matter, actually.

> But "how it works" (with AC) is something like this:  AC produces a
> field around the wire as it "flows".  This field in turn will induce a
> current in a wire placed close to it.  Loop a wire (transducer) around
> another wire (AC current flow), and you can inference the change in
> current in the original wire by measuring the current flow in the loop.
> 
> It doesn't work with DC, as DC doesn't create a field (at least, not
> when it's steady.  When switching on and off a DC device, you'll still
> get a change in current)
> 
> IANAE(lectrician), so this might be complete bunkum, but that's how I
> remember it anyway.

You almost got it. Actually, it's not necessary that the current be AC:
even a DC current produces a magnetic field around the conductor (albeit
a DC field). The clamp is a ferromagnetic ring that "concentrates" the
magnetic field, and it is interrupted at one location by a hall-effect
sensor that measures the magnetic field. The current can be calculated
from the magnetic field intensity and the diameter of the clamp ring.

-- Remy


Remove underscore and suffix in reply address for a timely response.

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-03 Thread Iain Buchanan
On Thu, 2006-08-03 at 20:58 -0700, Ow Mun Heng wrote:
> On Fri, 2006-08-04 at 13:20 +0930, Iain Buchanan wrote:

> > They're great devices - you can often
> > buy a multimeter (every geek should have one :) with a current clamp (or
> > transducer) thrown in.  That way you have no wiring, no inline plugs,
> > and you won't even have to turn the PC off to install it!
> 
> Dang. I have to kick myself for calling myself a Geek.

yeah, I have sore shins too...

> > Here's one that is just a current clamp [fluke.com.au]:
> > http://www.fluke.com.au/auen/products/Fluke+320.htm?catalog_name=FlukeAustralia
> > but you can buy a normal multimeter with the option too...
> 
> Hmm.. How does it work? Perhaps a google search or go through
> howstuffswork.com would help.

how does it work or how do you use it?  You use it by clipping the
"claws" around one wire that you're interested in...

um, I just came across a problem - it won't work with an AC power cord,
because you have active and neutral both going through the clamp in
opposite directions, hence they'll cancel each other out.  You need only
the active going through the clamp...  oh well, it was a nice idea.

But "how it works" (with AC) is something like this:  AC produces a
field around the wire as it "flows".  This field in turn will induce a
current in a wire placed close to it.  Loop a wire (transducer) around
another wire (AC current flow), and you can inference the change in
current in the original wire by measuring the current flow in the loop.

It doesn't work with DC, as DC doesn't create a field (at least, not
when it's steady.  When switching on and off a DC device, you'll still
get a change in current)

IANAE(lectrician), so this might be complete bunkum, but that's how I
remember it anyway.

HTH,
-- 
Iain Buchanan 

Truth is free, but information costs.

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-03 Thread Ow Mun Heng
On Fri, 2006-08-04 at 13:20 +0930, Iain Buchanan wrote:
> On Thu, 2006-08-03 at 11:45 -0700, Ow Mun Heng wrote:
> > On Thu, 2006-08-03 at 18:27 +, James wrote:
> > > Ow Mun Heng  wdc.com> writes:
> 
> > > Another, better solution is to purchase a clamp/amp meter so you 
> > > can merely put it around the power cord and make all sorts of power
> > 
> > The item I want to test is back home. I'm in the US for a few months
> > only, so a 240V one is needed.
> 
> so what's wrong with the clamp? 

Nothing. I just didn't know about them.

> They're great devices - you can often
> buy a multimeter (every geek should have one :) with a current clamp (or
> transducer) thrown in.  That way you have no wiring, no inline plugs,
> and you won't even have to turn the PC off to install it!

Dang. I have to kick myself for calling myself a Geek.

> Here's one that is just a current clamp [fluke.com.au]:
> http://www.fluke.com.au/auen/products/Fluke+320.htm?catalog_name=FlukeAustralia
> but you can buy a normal multimeter with the option too...

Hmm.. How does it work? Perhaps a google search or go through
howstuffswork.com would help.

> This way, it shouldn't matter what the Voltage is (240V, 120V,
> 3.141592653589793V) you just adjust the switch on the meter.
Cool. Wonder how much it is. Fluke stuffs aren't exactly cheap

Thanks for the heads up/
-- 
Ow Mun Heng <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-03 Thread Iain Buchanan
On Thu, 2006-08-03 at 11:45 -0700, Ow Mun Heng wrote:
> On Thu, 2006-08-03 at 18:27 +, James wrote:
> > Ow Mun Heng  wdc.com> writes:

> > Another, better solution is to purchase a clamp/amp meter so you 
> > can merely put it around the power cord and make all sorts of power
> 
> The item I want to test is back home. I'm in the US for a few months
> only, so a 240V one is needed.

so what's wrong with the clamp? They're great devices - you can often
buy a multimeter (every geek should have one :) with a current clamp (or
transducer) thrown in.  That way you have no wiring, no inline plugs,
and you won't even have to turn the PC off to install it!

Here's one that is just a current clamp [fluke.com.au]:
http://www.fluke.com.au/auen/products/Fluke+320.htm?catalog_name=FlukeAustralia
but you can buy a normal multimeter with the option too...

This way, it shouldn't matter what the Voltage is (240V, 120V,
3.141592653589793V) you just adjust the switch on the meter.

Some of the more expensive products have waveform capture and
datalogging features too.

HTH,
-- 
Iain Buchanan 

This is a test of the emergency broadcast system.  Had there been an
actual emergency, then you would no longer be here.

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-03 Thread Ow Mun Heng
On Thu, 2006-08-03 at 20:10 -0500, Dale wrote:
> Richard Fish wrote:
> > On 8/3/06, Dale <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >> Well, the USA has the same coming in too.  We have 220v to 240v coming
> >> in but that is split into different legs for the 110v to 120v stuff.
> >
> > No, we don't.  We have ~120V between a 'hot' wire and neutral, and
> > 240V appliances work by using the two hot wires that are 180 degrees
> > out of phase with each other.
> >
> > Other countries actually have 240V between the hot and neutral wires,
> > regardless of how many hot wires actually come in.

> But I can plug their 220v stuff in here too.  I have seen the plugs
> here, Lowes I think.  They are funny looking though. 

That's mainly because thoe 'stuffs' has built in inverters/step up/down
etc.

> 
> That said, having it 220 or 240v is more efficient.  That is why they
> distribute power at higher voltages, sometimes as high as 500Kv.

That is actually just so that it won't lose as much when it gets to it's
destination. That's "distribution" voltage to the substations which then
downsteps it to then be distributed to households etc.
-- 
Ow Mun Heng <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-03 Thread Dale
Richard Fish wrote:
> On 8/3/06, Dale <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> Well, the USA has the same coming in too.  We have 220v to 240v coming
>> in but that is split into different legs for the 110v to 120v stuff.
>
> No, we don't.  We have ~120V between a 'hot' wire and neutral, and
> 240V appliances work by using the two hot wires that are 180 degrees
> out of phase with each other.
>
> Other countries actually have 240V between the hot and neutral wires,
> regardless of how many hot wires actually come in.
>
> -Richard

But I can plug their 220v stuff in here too.  I have seen the plugs
here, Lowes I think.  They are funny looking though. 

That said, having it 220 or 240v is more efficient.  That is why they
distribute power at higher voltages, sometimes as high as 500Kv.

Dale
:-)  :-)
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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-03 Thread Richard Fish

On 8/3/06, Dale <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Well, the USA has the same coming in too.  We have 220v to 240v coming
in but that is split into different legs for the 110v to 120v stuff.


No, we don't.  We have ~120V between a 'hot' wire and neutral, and
240V appliances work by using the two hot wires that are 180 degrees
out of phase with each other.

Other countries actually have 240V between the hot and neutral wires,
regardless of how many hot wires actually come in.

-Richard
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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-03 Thread Dale
Mike Williams wrote:
> On Thursday 03 August 2006 19:27, James wrote:
>   
>> The simplist solution is NOBODY puts a 240 VAC power supply
>> into a computer unless it's going to draw some serious current
>> (amps) thus by the nature of it being 240 VAC, you already know
>> it is a power hog.
>> 
>
> Now, I'm not electrical engineer, but I know my way around a fuse board and 
> electricity having fitted out both our new offices for power, network, and 
> some walls.
>
> In the UK, and most (if not all) of Europe, Africa, and Asia too, run on 
> about 
> 240 volts, 230 +-10% I think now.
> Pretty much the whole world, except the Americas.
>
>   

Well, the USA has the same coming in too.  We have 220v to 240v coming
in but that is split into different legs for the 110v to 120v stuff. 

If you are using transformers to reduce it from 220v to 110v, that will
waste some energy right there.  Transformers are not real efficient.  If
you touch it and it is warm, that is what you are wasting.  That will
also make whatever you are cooling with work harder too.

Dale

:-)  :-)
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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-03 Thread Ow Mun Heng
On Thu, 2006-08-03 at 16:04 -0300, Daniel da Veiga wrote:
> On 8/3/06, Ow Mun Heng <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> > Unfortunately, I'm not a US resident and I live in a Country where the
> > power comes in at 240V.
> >
> >
> 
> I live in a cowntry where energy comes at 240V (Brazil), but all
> computers, printers and most eletronic devices are wired to a voltage
> stabilizer that reduces the risk of damage by lightning and other
> voltage peaks. This stabilizers also transform 240 to 120V AC, so, our
> energy is 240V but almost ALL devices run switched to 120V.


I'm sorry but what's the difference between running it at 120V or 240V?
(besides the stabilizer)
BTW, my PC equipment is running off an APS UPS that does power surges
and I presume stabilizer as well.

-- 
Ow Mun Heng <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [Very OT] - Kill-A-Watt (240V Version) to measure my Gentoo Server Power Usage

2006-08-03 Thread Daniel da Veiga

On 8/3/06, Ow Mun Heng <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

On Thu, 2006-08-03 at 18:27 +, James wrote:
> Ow Mun Heng  wdc.com> writes:
>
>
>
> > I know this is VERY OT. I have a Gentoo Server running at Home
> 24/7 and
> > there's a possiblity that it's really eating up my energy bill.
>
> > I've seen the Kill-A-Watt
> > http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/7657/ but it's a 120V US
> > Version.
>
> > I'm looking for a 240V Version. Would anyone here know where to
> get one?
>
> > The Server is an old DELL PowerEdge 4300 w/ 2x350Mhz Procs and
> 1GB Mem
>

> If you have an electrician, or are reasonably knowledgable with
> electricity, then you can split off one of the "hot legs" run
> it thru your 120VAC  power meter an see how much juice (energy)
> you are using.

I'm not going that path. Thanks anyway for the Howto.
>
> Another, better solution is to purchase a clamp/amp meter so you
> can merely put it around the power cord and make all sorts of power

The item I want to test is back home. I'm in the US for a few months
only, so a 240V one is needed.

> The simplist solution is NOBODY puts a 240 VAC power supply
> into a computer unless it's going to draw some serious current

Unfortunately, I'm not a US resident and I live in a Country where the
power comes in at 240V.

> energy savings in a year or so. Big power supplies also throw off
> lots of heat, so if you live somewhere hot, it's a double wammie.

Yeah.. Asian Country. HOT throughout the year.



I live in a cowntry where energy comes at 240V (Brazil), but all
computers, printers and most eletronic devices are wired to a voltage
stabilizer that reduces the risk of damage by lightning and other
voltage peaks. This stabilizers also transform 240 to 120V AC, so, our
energy is 240V but almost ALL devices run switched to 120V.

So, my advice is: get a stabilizer.

--
Daniel da Veiga
Computer Operator - RS - Brazil
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