WAPA Power Frequency Regulation

Yup, I'm on STX and all my digital clocks gain a few minutes per month. I also figured it was from WAPA running fast, but I don't have a scope to confirm. I notice the problem mostly on the clock for our house alarm which has battery backup and never loses power, so the speed-up is cumulative. All other clocks, I reset about once a week due to power outages.

Yes, like STXBob, I have to reset my clocks about once a week. They pick up a minute or two per week. Some are worse than others. I also think other electric appliances run hotter than they should. For example, when I set my Crockpot on low, it cooks more like it is set on medium. My electric stove is the same. My medium setting is more like medium high to high. This is the stove top not the oven which I know is off.

Our digital clocks are also running fast - one is the bedroom alarm clock, the other is on the electric stove. We've had to re-set them 4 or 5 times in the three months we've been here. I just figured that we bought a cheap alarm clock... 🙂

Jim,
It just so happens that my husband has a scope. He just checked the power and it's currently coming in at 60 megahertz. He said that he'll recheck tomorrow at half hour intervals to see if there are any fluctuations. He won't be able to get to it until he gets home from work, but I'll post the results when he's done.

My other half said that here on STT it's the voltage that's running high. He said that he measured it at his work and it was 158 VAC and at the UVI gym it was peaking at 174 VAC.

I have yet to notice if our clocks run fast but now I'll have to look out for it!! Maybe this is why time seems to disappear while on the island!!

Actually, my husband gave me the voltage number too but I forgot what he said it was. I only retained the 60 megahertz since Jim had mentioned it... 🙂

I'll post the numbers he finds tomorrow evening.... or thereabouts.

Wow, that would be significant spikes...

Thank God it wasn't just me! I am so glad I keep reading the board. The dryer (electric) tends to crisp clothing, the clocks run fast, the crock pot boils when set at 160 degrees. I'm not worried, but at least I know I'm not just being dizzy about all of this.

A little bit off the subject, but wasn't WAPA also supposed to do some sort of rate decrease soon? These bills are killing me.

Thanks again,

Dan

I'm on St. John, and our digital clocks are always fast, and when we cook stuff in the oven at the recommended temperature and for the recommended amount of time, it always burns...just figured we had crappy appliances!

Maybe because it's colser to the equator down there. LOL!

Sorry for the delay in getting the numbers posted, but we're having power and water problems at our condo. We figured we'd wait until the complex is up to full power before taking any readings.

Yesterday morning's storm knocked out one of the transformers here on the property so there are virtually no security lights on at night. WAPA was out looking at it last night, but they just seemed to make matters worse (there was a loud pop after they did "something" to it.... no one was hurt, but it sure made a lot of noise).

The power outage also killed our fresh water supply so we've been without it since yesterday morning. Luckily we planned ahead and have jugs of water on hand for our use. They recycle the gray water and use it in the toilets, so at least that's not an issue.

We also lost our cable tv service, so we're probably going to have to make alternate plans to watch the World Series since Innovative said they probably won't get to it until early next week.. (Go Tigers!) 😀

Such is life in the tropics... 🙂

Deb: If you are part of the homeowner's association, you might want to make noises about getting a generator for at least the water pump (probably why you don't have potable water), security lights and small stuff like that. Do you have a separate generator for your treatment plant? That is odd that the gray water is working and the regular water is not. Welcome to the world of the Virgin Islands. Now just imagine living like you are for 2 or 3 months...

Actually we're just renting. We signed a lease to go until the end of July 2007.

However, I've developed a good relationship with a lady that works in the admin office (she's from Michigan too) and she's been great to deal with. I will mention the need for a generator since we now don't have any water at all. 🙁 We have a friend that lives near C'sted and may have to pay him a visit and use his shower later today.

I suppose we're lucky though. One of the buildings here doesn't have water or power and hasn't since Thursday morning (I think). WAPA didn't make it out here yesterday as promised so the security lights were still out last night.

And no, I really can't imagine how it would be without water AND power for 2 - 3 months, let alone a full week! How did you folks handle it in the past?

Oh... and wasn't it fun watching the B movie on Fox TV last night? INSTEAD of the World Series??? The message said that MLB and Fox were in negotiations about transmitting the WS internationally. It finally came on around 9:30 PM... but that was ridiculous! :X