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Single Wire Earth Return

J

J.B. Wood

Jan 1, 1970
0
Greetings, all. Single Wire Earth Return (SWER) AC power distribution
is used in the Australian outback. Does anyone know if SWER is used
anywhere in the US? Thanks for your time and comment. Sincerely,
--
John Wood (Code 5520) e-mail: [email protected]

Naval Research Laboratory
4555 Overlook Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20375-5337
 
S

[SMF]

Jan 1, 1970
0
Greetings, all. Single Wire Earth Return (SWER) AC power distribution
is used in the Australian outback. Does anyone know if SWER is used
anywhere in the US? Thanks for your time and comment. Sincerely,

I think they tried it in Alaska.
 
G

Guest

Jan 1, 1970
0
J.B. Wood said:
Greetings, all. Single Wire Earth Return (SWER) AC power distribution is
used in the Australian outback. Does anyone know if SWER is used anywhere
in the US? Thanks for your time and comment. Sincerely,
--
John Wood (Code 5520) e-mail: [email protected]
Naval Research Laboratory
4555 Overlook Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20375-5337
-----------------------------------
It has been used successfully in rural areas in Canada. However, this has
been discontinued in general -an uninsulated and grounded neutral being
used. Part of the reason may be the semi-bogus stray voltage argument (often
due to poor secondary wiring -but - hey, lets sue the utility).
In one case that I know of , the local telephone company complained- so the
utility ran a ground to the edge of town and then dropped it to ground,
continuing with single wire, ground return. The "telephone problems" somehow
disappeared on their circuits parallel to the power line.

It works but the use of a return conductor works better as it doesn't depend
on ground rod systems and good ground paths to keep the impedance low so ,
as far as I know it is a thing of the past, suitable for low loads widely
dispersed. That is, if you can't see your neighbor's place, it works-that
should suit the outback.
 
J

J.B. Wood

Jan 1, 1970
0
-----------------------------------
It has been used successfully in rural areas in Canada. However, this
has been discontinued in general -an uninsulated and grounded neutral
being used. Part of the reason may be the semi-bogus stray voltage
argument (often due to poor secondary wiring -but - hey, lets sue the
utility).
In one case that I know of , the local telephone company complained- so
the utility ran a ground to the edge of town and then dropped it to
ground, continuing with single wire, ground return. The "telephone
problems" somehow disappeared on their circuits parallel to the power line.

It works but the use of a return conductor works better as it doesn't
depend on ground rod systems and good ground paths to keep the impedance
low so , as far as I know it is a thing of the past, suitable for low
loads widely dispersed. That is, if you can't see your neighbor's place,
it works-that should suit the outback.

Thanks, Don, and all who replied. It seems that saving a few bucks on
wire wouldn't offset the disadvantages of using soil in place of
copper/steel. I'm an EE by profession (not that well-versed in power
distribution systems) but SWER seems kind of silly when all the
alternatives are weighed. Sincerely,

--
John Wood (Code 5520) e-mail: [email protected]

Naval Research Laboratory
4555 Overlook Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20375-5337
 
B

Bob

Jan 1, 1970
0
I did a little research as I was not familiar with this term and was amazed
that farmers would even try this, based on my experiences at the company I
used to work at. Using the earth as a neutral, particularly in Canada or
the northern US where the soil conditions can change dramatically over the
course of the year is foolhardy and dangerous. Protection systems,
particularly GFI would not work correctly if at all. The farm animals,
being 4 legged, are more susceptible to step potential than we are. In a
fault condition that step voltage could get quite high.

The research I did came up with a paper written back in 1947 for New
Zealand, and a WEB site titled "RuralPower.org" which advocates it but seems
directed towards countries like India and Nigeria.

--

\\\|///
[ @ @ ]
..........o00o..(_)..o00o.........

Cheers .,. Bob
PEng Retired

J.B. Wood said:
Thanks, Don, and all who replied. It seems that saving a few bucks on
wire wouldn't offset the disadvantages of using soil in place of
copper/steel. I'm an EE by profession (not that well-versed in power
distribution systems) but SWER seems kind of silly when all the
alternatives are weighed. Sincerely,

--
John Wood (Code 5520) e-mail: [email protected]
Naval Research Laboratory
4555 Overlook Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20375-5337

__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus
signature database 4959 (20100319) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

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__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4959 (20100319) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com
 
A

Archimedes' Lever

Jan 1, 1970
0
I did a little research as I was not familiar with this term and was amazed
that farmers would even try this, based on my experiences at the company I
used to work at. Using the earth as a neutral, particularly in Canada or
the northern US where the soil conditions can change dramatically over the
course of the year is foolhardy and dangerous. Protection systems,
particularly GFI would not work correctly if at all. The farm animals,
being 4 legged, are more susceptible to step potential than we are. In a
fault condition that step voltage could get quite high.

The research I did came up with a paper written back in 1947 for New
Zealand, and a WEB site titled "RuralPower.org" which advocates it but seems
directed towards countries like India and Nigeria.


I'd say that Iraq doesn't know how to wire up power either.
 
D

Dean Hoffman

Jan 1, 1970
0
Bob said:
I did a little research as I was not familiar with this term and was
amazed that farmers would even try this, based on my experiences at the
company I used to work at. Using the earth as a neutral, particularly
in Canada or the northern US where the soil conditions can change
dramatically over the course of the year is foolhardy and dangerous.
Protection systems, particularly GFI would not work correctly if at
all. The farm animals, being 4 legged, are more susceptible to step
potential than we are. In a fault condition that step voltage could get
quite high.

The research I did came up with a paper written back in 1947 for New
Zealand, and a WEB site titled "RuralPower.org" which advocates it but
seems directed towards countries like India and Nigeria.

I think they did it during WWII. Just about everything was
rationed.
My dad said he had a Maytag washer engine to pump water for a stock
tank. He had it rigged so that the water would short out the spark when
the tank was about full. This was back when farmers still had windmills.
 
A

Archimedes' Lever

Jan 1, 1970
0
COVERING YOUR BUTTOCKS WON'T HELP

I AM PROTEUS

Being a total fucking group abusing retard doesn't help you either, but
you incessantly perform like a star in the stupid group abuser realm.
 
A

Archimedes' Lever

Jan 1, 1970
0
NOBOODY GIVES A FLYING FAGGOTY **** WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY TROLL

I AM PROTEUS


You can bet that google groups WILL care about your abuse when I start
filing complaints on your retarded ass on a daily basis.
 
J

James Sweet

Jan 1, 1970
0
Dean said:
I think they did it during WWII. Just about everything was rationed.
My dad said he had a Maytag washer engine to pump water for a stock
tank. He had it rigged so that the water would short out the spark when
the tank was about full. This was back when farmers still had windmills.


People did all sorts of stuff back then that would be considered too
dangerous now. GFCIs did not exist until decades later, it was still
common to build transformerless radios with one side of the line
connected directly to the metal chassis, nothing had a safety ground,
it's just how it was. During the war when supplies were short, one did
whatever they had to in order to get the job done. Safety was a luxury.
 
People did all sorts of stuff back then that would be considered too
dangerous now. GFCIs did not exist until decades later, it was still
common to build transformerless radios with one side of the line
connected directly to the metal chassis, nothing had a safety ground,
it's just how it was. During the war when supplies were short, one did
whatever they had to in order to get the job done. Safety was a luxury.

Which war was that ('60s)?
 
A

Archimedes' Lever

Jan 1, 1970
0
The point being that they were still doing it in the '60s, when "supplies
being short" was not an excuse.

Damned shame a piece of that equipment didn't take you out... or
better yet, your spawn slugs that had you.
 
J

James Sweet

Jan 1, 1970
0
The point being that they were still doing it in the '60s, when "supplies
being short" was not an excuse.


Sure it could be, perhaps the area didn't have a lot of money and it was
still considered an acceptable way of doing it? Half the conductors
means half the cost. Obviously it did work, even if we wouldn't do it
that way anymore. In regions where the ground is moist and relatively
low impedance it ought to work pretty well.

Gasoline still contained lead, mercury was still commonly used in
household thermometers, kids chemistry sets still used real chemicals,
most cars didn't have seatbelts, buildings were built without earthquake
reinforcement or fire sprinklers, a lot has changed in 50 years and
people are a lot more safety conscious, sometimes even ridiculously so.
 
W

WarmUnderbelly

Jan 1, 1970
0
I AM NOT ANYMORE

I AM PROTEUS


You said that before. So be gone, little whore.
You shall not be missed, for you are such a bore.
Nothing about you or your life will ever be lore.
So take a hike, ya puke, you deserve nothing more.
 
Damned shame a piece of that equipment didn't take you out... or
better yet, your spawn slugs that had you.

Wow, DimBulb. Such anger. You should seek help, except that there aren't
enough psychiatrists, nor pharmaceuticals in the whole state of California to
help you.
 
Sure it could be, perhaps the area didn't have a lot of money and it was
still considered an acceptable way of doing it? Half the conductors
means half the cost. Obviously it did work, even if we wouldn't do it
that way anymore. In regions where the ground is moist and relatively
low impedance it ought to work pretty well.

Regions? The entire US? Stop being an idiot.
Gasoline still contained lead, mercury was still commonly used in
household thermometers, kids chemistry sets still used real chemicals,
most cars didn't have seatbelts, buildings were built without earthquake
reinforcement or fire sprinklers, a lot has changed in 50 years and
people are a lot more safety conscious, sometimes even ridiculously so.

I see that I'm asking the impossible.
 
A

Archimedes' Lever

Jan 1, 1970
0
Wow, DimBulb. Such anger. You should seek help, except that there aren't
enough psychiatrists, nor pharmaceuticals in the whole state of California to
help you.

Especially since I wouldn't go to a psychiatrist if you paid me. You
lose, again, keithtardstaintard.
 
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