Low Wall Voltage Tonight.....

[murky]

Disclaimer: everything tells me my bull*hit meter should be maxing out right now......but it isn't......

Plinking around this evening, everything sounded a bit meh. Swap to more expensive guitar - nope. Different amps (all tube) - nope. Take pants off - no (surprised, because that normally fixes everything). Even the dog agreed, moved to another room, and started ripping wallpaper off the wall.

Then I noticed - wall voltage was 213-214v.

I know this because I purchased a voltage meter a couple of years ago. Having done so, I quickly concluded that wall voltage was pretty consistent (228-232v typically), and I couldn’t hear any difference with this variation. So, I filed that theory in the bull*hit bin and made peace with the $50 I just wasted.....but left the meter plugged in, hardly giving it a glance in the time since.......until now that is......

Hmmmmm.....

[MikeC]

Disclaimer: everything tells me my bull*hit meter should be maxing out right now......but it isn't......

Plinking around this evening, everything sounded a bit meh. Swap to more expensive guitar - nope. Different amps (all tube) - nope. Take pants off - no (surprised, because that normally fixes everything). Even the dog agreed, moved to another room, and started ripping wallpaper off the wall.

Then I noticed - wall voltage was 213-214v.

I know this because I purchased a voltage meter a couple of years ago. Having done so, I quickly concluded that wall voltage was pretty consistent (228-232v typically), and I couldn’t hear any difference with this variation. So, I filed that theory in the bull*hit bin and made peace with the $50 I just wasted.....but left the meter plugged in, hardly giving it a glance in the time since.......until now that is......

Hmmmmm.....

That's extremely low. I'm normally high at 245 which has it's own issues. You on the grid?

[murky]

That's extremely low. I'm normally high at 245 which has it's own issues. You on the grid?

House - yes. Me - not so sure sometimes.

[MikeC]

Check some other power points all round the house. Are they the same?

[murky]

Check some other power points all round the house. Are they the same?

Even worse - most around 211v now!

Not suprising.....it is pretty cold up here in Auckland

[godgrinder]

Time to play some Van Halen I guess? You won't even need a variac haha.

[MikeC]

Check some other power points all round the house. Are they the same?

Even worse - most around 211v now!

Not suprising.....it is pretty cold up here in Auckland

Jeez, must be all those EV's charging along with the heat pumps cranked! Just checked mine at 241V - lowish for my house.

[Molly]

Time to play some Van Halen I guess? You won't even need a variac haha.

Would that work or do you need to set it for US voltage and take it down from there?

[murky]

Time to play some Van Halen I guess? You won't even need a variac haha.

Would that work or do you need to set it for US voltage and take it down from there?

Yeah, you can do it at 230v - the reduction's just proportionate. The step most people miss is re-biasing the power tubes at the lower voltage....and making sure someone doesn't then plug it back into full wall voltage......

[Zaulkin]

Take pants off - no (surprised, because that normally fixes everything).

It wont fix the sound, but at least you don't have to use a strap. Free guitar stand!

[Cdog]

Interesting that you spotted it. Stormy weather out your way then?

[Molly]

Time to play some Van Halen I guess? You won't even need a variac haha.

Would that work or do you need to set it for US voltage and take it down from there?

Yeah, you can do it at 230v - the reduction's just proportionate. The step most people miss is re-biasing the power tubes at the lower voltage....and making sure someone doesn't then plug it back into full wall voltage......

I have a Suhr SL68 on my bucket list. It does the variac / re-bias thing itself.

[murky]

I have a Suhr SL68 on my bucket list. It does the variac / re-bias thing itself.

Yeah, I chased the 12000 thing a while back and ended up keeping a Bray 4550. The Variac thing is a cool trick, but was more like a cherry on top of an already killer cake/icing. A good 12000, with everything on 10 and the right EL43’s, is actually all you really need. The Bray can switch from GZ34 to SS rectification - the GZ34 gives a bit of softness/sag similar to variac, but I rarely find myself using it.

[sizzlingbadger]

Check the voltage in the main fuse box where it entered the house. If it is low there then report it to the supplier.

[murky]

Stripe's back.....

Things were sounding a little like unwashed men’s undies tonight. Have been using the same amp/gat all week, and it’s been sounding fab, so the change was quite obvious.

Grabbed the volt meter from the other room, and wadda you know - 216v! [EDIT - voltage in on Meter Box also reading ~216v]

Did a bit of experimenting:

• The change is most noticeable with p90’s - specifically reduced clarity on the neck pickup, and a lot less dynamic range.

• Single coils - I think there was a difference - but wouldn’t bet the first born.

• Buckers - nadda - sounded pretty normal.

Gonna re-locate a voltage conditioner/regulator I've got, and report back......