hi
This is just a starter because I haven't done any measurements yet (I was a guest there) and what I can do will be restricted as this has never been thought to be a problem by the owner who is a relative, but I'm more concerned than he is by what I've seen.
Background: modern hugely extended/rebuilt house (probably first built in 80's but rebuilt about 10 years ago).
100A main fuse, two large Wylex RCD split CU's. It looks like the cut-out has probably been relocated as it's now close to the CU's, but not near an outside wall now, which is where it probably was before the house was effectively rebuilt. (I need to find out if it was originally an outside wall, will probe the rebuild history gently next time I'm there)
The tails, 25mm are fairly short (45-60cm)
There are lots of separate circuits, up and down rings, kitchen ring, various radials, various lighting circuits etc.
The lighting in the kitchen (and most of the rest of the downstairs) is LED GU10's but previously it was halogens. (35 or 50W not sure which, but 6A MCB on a separate circuit going back to the CU)
When the kettle is switched on you can see the lights dim, only slightly but certainly enough to notice. I saw this same thing with the halogens before they were changed to LED lamps (and with the previous kettle).
I haven't had the opportunity to do any voltage measurements yet but I suspect that any similar load being switched on in other parts of the house will likely have the same effect.
The lighting load is probably no more than 100 - 200W on that circuit now. (I didn't count but certainly no more than 20 GU10 at 6 or 7 W max)
My gut feeling is that the voltage drop must be quite large to notice the lights dim even if it's only slight, and worryingly with such a relatively small load increase. Obviously I need to do some tests, at the minimum measure the voltage drop and the current as the kettle is switched on (and when the oven or any other highish load appliance is switched).
Although very unlikely to be relevant, the standing (quiescent) consumption of the house is probably fairly high by modern eco-standards (I'm guessing well over 1kW) as lots of electronics is permanently powered, Alarms, cameras, Audio, satellite etc.
Thoughts anyone?
This is just a starter because I haven't done any measurements yet (I was a guest there) and what I can do will be restricted as this has never been thought to be a problem by the owner who is a relative, but I'm more concerned than he is by what I've seen.
Background: modern hugely extended/rebuilt house (probably first built in 80's but rebuilt about 10 years ago).
100A main fuse, two large Wylex RCD split CU's. It looks like the cut-out has probably been relocated as it's now close to the CU's, but not near an outside wall now, which is where it probably was before the house was effectively rebuilt. (I need to find out if it was originally an outside wall, will probe the rebuild history gently next time I'm there)
The tails, 25mm are fairly short (45-60cm)
There are lots of separate circuits, up and down rings, kitchen ring, various radials, various lighting circuits etc.
The lighting in the kitchen (and most of the rest of the downstairs) is LED GU10's but previously it was halogens. (35 or 50W not sure which, but 6A MCB on a separate circuit going back to the CU)
When the kettle is switched on you can see the lights dim, only slightly but certainly enough to notice. I saw this same thing with the halogens before they were changed to LED lamps (and with the previous kettle).
I haven't had the opportunity to do any voltage measurements yet but I suspect that any similar load being switched on in other parts of the house will likely have the same effect.
The lighting load is probably no more than 100 - 200W on that circuit now. (I didn't count but certainly no more than 20 GU10 at 6 or 7 W max)
My gut feeling is that the voltage drop must be quite large to notice the lights dim even if it's only slight, and worryingly with such a relatively small load increase. Obviously I need to do some tests, at the minimum measure the voltage drop and the current as the kettle is switched on (and when the oven or any other highish load appliance is switched).
Although very unlikely to be relevant, the standing (quiescent) consumption of the house is probably fairly high by modern eco-standards (I'm guessing well over 1kW) as lots of electronics is permanently powered, Alarms, cameras, Audio, satellite etc.
Thoughts anyone?
