[techiecal]

I see lot of action from the stabilizer in the morning (between 9 and 10:30 AM). I took my volt meter and saw that the voltage from the supply company fluctuates between 160 and 440 Volts.

Am I reading this right 'between 160 and 440V'. I think you mean 240V.

[vsrivatsa]

I am trying to decide between the two Microwave Ovens and looking for advice on the same:

1. Panasonic NN-DS592B Inverter based MW Oven:
http://www.panasonic.com/in/consumer...nn-ds592b.html

2. LG Charcoal, Lightwave Heater MW Oven:
http://www.lg.com/in/microwave-ovens/lg-MJ3283BKG

I have read lot of good things about the Inverter Technology which is not available in both LG and Samsung. But the Panasonic model called out is not much customized in terms of Indian Menus etc. What do people on team bhp recommend/advice?

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by S_U_N

I see lot of action from the stabilizer in the morning (between 9 and 10:30 AM). I took my volt meter and saw that the voltage from the supply company fluctuates between 160 and 440 Volts.

Originally Posted by techiecal

Am I reading this right 'between 160 and 440V'. I think you mean 240V.

Hmmm... 440 is the voltage across two phases, and very nasty indeed for humans or equipment. I've seen it indoors, but it was the result of an outside-the-house EB fault. Luckily, I didn't have very much blow up.

I would certainly call the EB engineers if I saw it going that high: it is just too dangerous!

Did I ever tell you about the time I got a 440v shock on the head?

--- Ahem, shut up, Thad, old man, yes you did!

[sgiitk]

@Thad; 440V across two phases adds up to 440/1.73 volts between a phase and neutral. Actually across two phases you should expect about 415V.

[techiecal]

Yes, but he is talking about the voltage that powers his TV so it must be between phase and neutral and 160 - 440 between phase and neutral is shocking and unbelievable.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

@Thad; 440V across two phases adds up to 440/1.73 volts between a phase and neutral. Actually across two phases you should expect about 415V.

Is it? I guess it is a simple sum, and I seem to remember some explanation with diagrams too. I plead innumeracy!

[sgiitk]

Thad it is easy. You have 120 degrees between phases, which is what leads to the 1.73 factor. In fact it is 415 at 240V or so, at 220V it is more like 380V.

[Thad E Ginathom]

I know that it hurts! And that I might possibly be lucky to be alive and uninjured from my brief encounter with a fault that made the EB meter casing live at the full 3-phase difference!

[sgiitk]

Even 230V can be tricky. Once I got it on my forearm and fortunately there was a student who promptly pulled me out. Thanks RR Arya.

[Thad E Ginathom]

a quick touch of 230V I have experienced many times, usually as a result of being stupid. Just because I'm still alive, though, I'm not claiming that it is safe. Not at all.

The weird thing about the 440 (that's what my meter said, case to ground, was it was not like an electric shock: it was like being hit with a blunt object. <POW> just like in the cartoons.

[Aroy]

It all depends on how much current the source can pump through your body. Mains is dangerous as it can pump in quite a lot of current. Geysers and water coolers are also dangerous. But small leaks from appliances, generally are not that fatal. Anyway shoes and chappals prevent direct connection with earth, hence reduce the intensity of current.

[dre@ms]

I am in lookout for a gas stove. Received a brochure from Prestige on their new Hobtops. Any reviews on it? How difficult it is to clean? They are dual purpose, can be housed as a stove or hobs.

http://www.prestigesmartkitchen.com/...urner-pht03-ai

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by Aroy

It all depends on how much current the source can pump through your body. Mains is dangerous as it can pump in quite a lot of current. Geysers and water coolers are also dangerous. But small leaks from appliances, generally are not that fatal. Anyway shoes and chappals prevent direct connection with earth, hence reduce the intensity of current.

Probably repeptition, but perhaps it is worthwhile as a safety warning:

I was fixing wire mesh to the cable entry points of our EB board, which is enclosed in a cupboard, to keep out rats and moonj elis (shrews).

This is the big, big stupid: Because I wasn't doing electrical work, or even touching electrical components, I did not give a thought to electrical safety.

I wasn't even wearing shoes. Of course, nobody expects an appliance case to have become live, especially the main meter itself, but the lesson is to observe electrical safety even when working near electricity, especially when two or more phases are present within easy reach.

...but I'm alive, and I'll try not to be so stupid again.

[fine69]

I got LG's F1296WDL24 6.5 kg front load yesterday. The manual doesn't contain any instructions on which detergent to use.

What's the best detergent to be used for this machine and do I have to change it based on type of clothing or some other factor? What about woolen clothes on which I used to use genteel when using my old semi-automatic machine?

[DieselFan]

Front load wash mahines need different wash powders specifically meant for them. These are clearly marked in their cartons. These powders have low froth forming property which is important for all front loading machines.