Is 244 volts too high for household electricity?

Question

I'm burning out light bulbs too often in my house. I checked the voltage at the meter and I got 122.5 v to neutraal on each leg and 244v between hots. Can this cause bulbs to burn out too soon?

Answer 1

NO! 244 volts is normal range voltage for household current. Maybe you just a bad batch of bulbs. The more they are turned off and on the shorter their lifespan.

Answer 2

No, we have the same problem and I am assuming we are buying cheap bulbs or bulbs are just getting cheaper made(as in worse)

Answer 3

Hmm.  Voltages vary throughout the world.  It'd be helpful to know where you are before evaluating the answers.

http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm

Answer 4

check your ground ,do you have a copper rod driven in the ground,and an appropriate copper lead to the ground block in the circuit breaker box? ...........tom

Answer 5

Most all household voltage has a range from 220 to 240 volts. What may be happening is that you may be having voltage spikes coming thru your lines.This happens at times,usually not very often. It seems to me that your incoming voltage appears a little high on the spectrum of normal. That is not to say that in the part of the country where you live that it is abnormal,but I am not accustomed to seeing it that high very often.

Answer 6

have you tried a different brand of bulbs ? 122.5vac (122v + 122v= 244v) sounds good to me, the higher the voltage the less amperage your going to pull (just try to keep it at a plus or minus 10% for most applications), so 122.5vac would run slightly cooler then say 110vac. the higher the amperage the more current, the more current the more friction and the more friction, you guessed it the more heat. so my answer is no, 244 is fine. it may be due to power surges ? give your electrical company a call or i would look up the bulb manufacturer and call their technical support.

hope that helps

Answer 7

Your voltage is correct.

Each leg is roughly 120 volts.

For appliances that require 220 or 240 the double (Big)breaker grabs both bars and thats what gives you 220 or 240.

The circuit the lightbulbs are on is only a single (Small) breaker. This means its only grabbing 1 of the hot bars which is 120 volts. This is whats required to run a standard incandescent bulb.

If you check the voltage at the lightbulb socket put one lead on the middle tab and one lead on the outer sides of the socket where the threads are you will get 120 volts.

Buy a different brand of bulbs.

I bought some losers earlier this year. I emailed the company and they sent me coupons for free bulbs.

Good Luck and dont take any chances with electricity.

Answer 8

No.......I was told your electricity at the panel can run approx. 4 to 5 volts over,,,,,,,that this is quite common,even as much as 7.......in other words.........247.....would still be ok......nite