[etech]

Randal,

Thanks for the offer of the nichrome wire. I will keep it in mind.

Ed

[justlrnin]

Texasrocker--Thank you for the offer as well, and for the tips for making the step-down resistor. I'll let you know if when I need some of the nichrome wire.

[FStephenMasek]

I spotted this and think the resistor is an excellent idea.

By the way, I have quite a few old radios which were originally built with multiple primary winding taps and some sort of switch to select the voltage. It seems that 125V was always one of the choices, even back in the late 1920s.

The line voltage in my house also runs high. Maybe I should call the utility and tell them to change taps on the transformer out in the underground vault across the street. I have tested quite a few old utiltiy transformers for PCBs (deenergized!), and it seems that all of them have several taps to taylor the output voltage.

[exray]

Sometimes your utility will be nice enough to do that. I've had the same issue before and they complied. But often is the case when they come out on a hot sunny day and say "harrumph, its 124 volts - nothing wrong with that" oblivious to the fact it may be reaching 130 at night when there's less load.

We had a spell here a few years back that had me at 127-128 in the evening and it took its toll on light bulbs and a few old radio xfmrs. The issue has since been corrected (it wasn't my local xfmr) but during that time I stocked up on some bargain-priced 50 watt / 18 ohm Dale chassis mount resistors. They will drop about 6-10 volts on most radios.

I could spare any of you fellows a couple for the mailing cost. Call it $1 for one or 1.50 fer two. Easier than winding your own

-ex

[etech]

Regarding the high line voltage, I switched to 130 volt light bulbs. That seemed to do the trick. Now of course, I'm switching to CFL's. They don't seem to be affected by high line voltage. At least not the ones I have had running here now for more than two years. One upside of the high line voltage is that the electric motors love it. Motors such as those used in refrigerators, air conditioners, well pump, etc. They start fast and run cool.

Ed

[BDM]

Been lucky here. My power has been running at a steady 117v for the last year.

[exray]

Been lucky here. My power has been running at a steady 117v for the last year.

Me too. They are a like a clock when they want to be. Just poked probes into my outlet. 116.9 The hoopla that you should simply accept high line voltage as a modern Norm isn't well founded but sh*rt happens.