[time-nuts] Power grid experiment may drive Americas clocks cuckoo ?

Bill Hawkins bill at iaxs.net
Thu Nov 17 07:06:51 UTC 2011


Yet another example of what a reporter can do when the facts are not
understood. The speculative headline is catchy but dead wrong.

Back when it was written last summer, there was a plan to deregulate
the frequency. The reason it was even proposed is that most clocks
now are battery powered and are regulated by crystal oscillators.

Power frequency regulation is complicated. Generating plants are
told how much power to generate by a central dispatcher. Individual
plants do not have precise control of generator frequency because
the synchronous generators tied to the common distribution network
would fight each other.

Presently, the act of changing the amount of power generated in a
plant carries the risk of tripping a generator off-line, which can
cascade to other generators and other plants due to the step change
in power on the network.

The networks are too big, and they are designed to fail to protect
themselves.

Last I knew, the test had been cancelled.

Bill Hawkins


-----Original Message-----
From: Craig S McCartney
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 8:49 PM

Yet another challenge to proper time-keeping.  I think that I will
re-calibrate the sundial in my yard and declare it "Montalvo Road Time"
(MRT) and darn to those who disagree!

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/utes/52072031-68/clocks-power-grid-electric
.html.csp

Craig McCartney
160 Montalvo Road
Palomar Park, CA  94062






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