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Thread ID: 109091 2010-04-24 01:21:00 What would happen if the mains frequency was increased? Agent_24 (57) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
879471 2010-04-24 01:21:00 I had a dream last night where this happened.

In my dream none of the lights were working, computer monitors were all showing snow, and when I checked the electricity meter and it said the AC frequency was 236kHz.

What would actually happen if this was true?
Agent_24 (57)
879472 2010-04-24 02:10:00 I am not an expert but....

lights may still work.

most other things would not.
90% of modern electronics use switch mode power, this would not work.

90% of mains powered electoral motors expect 50Hz or 60Hz
robsonde (120)
879473 2010-04-24 02:21:00 I am not an expert but....

lights may still work.

most other things would not.
90% of modern electronics use switch mode power, this would not work.

90% of mains powered electoral motors expect 50Hz or 60Hz

I'm not either, but I know that incandescent lights would work fine.

Also, I believe all switchmode power supplies would work (such as computer, laptop, etc). This is because they rectify the power as the very first step before chopping it up again.

HOWEVER, this is assuming that that high frequency power made it into your house. The transformers in between the power station and your house (ie at substations and your neighborhood) probably wouldn't work on that high frequency power. This is a guess, though, and is not based on solid knowledge :p
george12 (7)
879474 2010-04-24 02:29:00 Most conductors would burn out due to the increased resistance
caused by the 'skin effect'
en.wikipedia.org
KarameaDave (15222)
879475 2010-04-24 02:39:00 Most conductors would burn out due to the increased resistance
caused by the 'skin effect'
en.wikipedia.org

Interesting to read, I knew nothing of this before now.
Agent_24 (57)
879476 2010-04-24 02:40:00 Your bedside clock would set off the alarm a bit early R2x1 (4628)
879477 2010-04-24 02:42:00 Quite a lot of people don't, my data cabling tutor at CPIT
was the one who told me about it a few years ago.
KarameaDave (15222)
879478 2010-04-24 02:44:00 The alternators at the power station would be fair nipping around. R2x1 (4628)
879479 2010-04-24 02:56:00 Are you a plane buff Agent? The AC voltages are 400 Hz you might have been having an aviation dream, better than a wet dream. prefect (6291)
879480 2010-04-24 03:05:00 Not really, I didn't even know 400 Hz AC was used in aircraft

Looks like today is a good day for learning things!
Agent_24 (57)
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