Hi all, new to Boquete, but long history (25+) with Electrical safety and repair (Medical equipment).
As I peruse this Blog and search for needed items myself, I notice that there are general issues with the lifespan of Electronics and appliances. Yes, the better the quality of manufacture, the longer most items will function as designed. But there is one thing that will kill them faster than that, yet they need it to function: Power!!!
Power in the country for most of us is 120volts. Actually normal is considered 108 volts to 122volts. The old incandescent light bulb will show you in varying brightness if it is fluctuating.
Brownouts = Where the voltage drops below 105 volts or so (heh, going by memory here, so look it up for exacts). The problem is that motors are hungry and if the voltage drops, they try to draw more amperage to make it up (sometimes will pop the breaker). Motors struggle and that reduces their life.
Drop outs = Where power quits (circuit breaker blows or line breaks). But then comes back within 20 to 30 seconds (or as little as 1 second).
Surge = As power demands/supply fluctuates it can actually go higher. Do to natural effects of lines, the collapse of power (dropout) isn't always instantaneous. If power comes right back, it adds to what is still collapsing and the voltage can go much higher than normal. But even worse is when Lightning hits lines/poles. Thousand of volts rides (no amperage) on the line till it hits your systems instantaneous frying them.
As too appliance life: Power surges kills boards in appliances. Almost all are electronically controlled anymore and they won't take the surges very long. They have small components that will do minor protection (usually), but over time they break down. Even the surge protectors you buy, if they don't have a testing circuit, I would replace them every few years. Better ones would be Power Conditioner/Voltage regulating. Considering what we pay for appliances, consider a good conditioner an insurance policy.
What kills anything with a refrigerant motor (refrigerators, air conditioners and de-humidifiers) is the brown outs and drop outs (power quits for one to 30 seconds). The motor has to restart with the fluid pressure at maximum (normal) and puts a big strain on it. It is best to have a type for appliance with surge protection (when power comes back on it can be be enhanced by some natural effects that can actually make it over 180 volts-see above). Appliance type of protectors actually drop out and won't let the appliance have power for a preset time so that they won't be broken when they come back on.
So, what to buy. Something. As with everything, it is a balance of cost/quality versus what you are protecting. I wouldn't pay $50+ for items that are under $200 to replace (I would still get something though). I have a surge protector on everything in the house that i own. I moved here from rural New Mexico where power is better, but LIGHTNING rules. I would have a voltage regulator type on higher cost electronics like TV's and computers. Even better, have a battery backup type on Modems and routers for less disruption (i have noticed that where i live the internet is still available if the modem has power). Too cheap won't help much at all. The first protector I found was only $5 or so, but it only lasted for less than 10 minutes.
Anyway, enjoying our time here. We got our temp residence cards last week and drivers license this week. So see you around.
Ken and Shelley Settles
Replies
Someone has told me that 2 tv's have stopped working because of the lightning and it is only the one that is connected to the main socket in the home (not the ones in the rooms). I will recommend a surge protector, how much do you think they are? And any recommendations? Ty.
Great to have you here. Enjoy.
@EM: THANKS FOR HIJACKING MY POST. WITH ALL THE POSTS ABOUT RESIDENCY WHY CHOOSE A POST THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RESIDENCY OR BETTR STILL WHY NOT START YOUR OWN POST OR SEND A MESSAGE TO THE PERSON THAT YOU WANT AN ANSWER FROM. OBVIOUSLY, YOU ARE NEW TO POSTING AND HAVEN'T YET LEARNED THE PROTOCOL BUT IT IS BAD MANNERS TO START A DIFFERENT POST ON SOME ONE ELSE'S POST ABOUT A DIFFERENT SUBJECT!!!
PS: IT IS ALSO BAD MANNERS TO POST IN CAPITAL LETTERS HOWEVER I SUFFER FROM AN MEDICAL EYESIGHT DISORDER CALLED AMD-WET (AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION) AND NEED TO TYPE IN CAPS TO SEE WHAT I AM TYPING.
Patrick, Union Fenosa is using new digital meters now. The calibration of these meters is highly suspect. We have had ours replaced 3 times now. We have similar demand in our house and we are getting 200-300 KW swings per month for know reason which doubles our month to month bill. Go to Fenosa and complain and then go to ASEP and complain. If enough people do this maybe they will throw these crooked b......s out of Panama like they did in Nicaragua in 2015. https://www.facebook.com/Abusos-de-Uni%C3%B3n-Fenosa-207780003001722/
I was also talking to an electrical engineer about these new meters and he told me that the digital meters they are using reset to the next kilowatt hour automatically when the power goes out, which may explain why the power has been shutting off for a minute or so all the time now over the the past 2 years since they started installing the new digital meters. Think of the consequences financially for them, kind of like rigging slot machines. I have asked for over 2 years now to have my meters calibration checked by an independent testing facility with zero results.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO START AN ARGUMENT FOR NO REASON. STUPID. I DIDN'T HIJACK YOUR POST. I STARTED MY OWN POST. IT ISN'T YOUR THREAD TO START WITH. I SENT A REPLY WITH RELATIVE INFORMATION. BUT YOU CAN TYPE ON OTHER POSTS WITHOUT CAPS?
DON'T TRY TO MAKE ENEMIES. THE DEVIL IS YOUR ENEMY GO PICK A FIGHT WITH HIM.
We are in process to get our residency. We started in February through a lawyer in PC (Mayra). She was recommended both by people here and people we met in El Valle de Anton. I hear there is a good one here as well, but it does require that lawyer to travel to PC and you get to pay for that (full or if they have other clients and you share, i don't know).
We were required to get an appointment at the US Embassy in PC to get our US drivers license certified. We accomplished this when we went back (you have to get an appointment with them) to finish up getting our temporary Panamanian residency (be sure you apply for a multiexit type or if you leave you have to start over). You have to have that to get the Panamanian drivers license (in 6 months we should get our permanent residency). We then got a blood type test in Boquete (across from Value Auto is where we went) as our state doesn't have it on the license. Finally, we went down into David to go through getting it at their version of a DMV at the Chiriqui Mall (next to Pricesmart).
We waited in line and then presented our paperwork and Passport with our temporary Residency card. Oh wait, there was some paperwork our lawyer took care of for us, but i don't remember what that was, sorry (i think it was some sort of application). After waiting over an hour the power went out and 1 1/2 hours later they said we could leave and come back (not air conditioned in there). After doing our shopping around town we went back and power was on. We gave her the note she gave us so we wouldn't have to start over and then we waited another 1/2 hour before we were given an eye test and a hearing test (separate room, both all the sounds of the office and instructions in spanish made it difficult, but we both passed). Then after paying $36 to $40 (my wife was the latter, i don't know why the difference) we were given our licenses. We received ones with ABC as the endorsements to drive. She pointed out we can drive a bicycle, a motorcycle (we have US endorsements and wished to have the option), a car and a pickup (but not a truck). Hope this helps.
Thank you Ken for this valuable information. I have been living here for over 18+ years and the fluctuating was much worst in the past. My wife has a small house in Dolega and she has been getting electric bills much too high for a little 2 bedroom house. The January bill was $170. and the house only has a Refrigerator, 3 ceiling fans (no air conditioner), small kitchen light, bathroom light and a water pump (just used when water turned on) and a TV and Roku streaming device. The other day, for no reason at all, the main electric breaker in the street turned off. It was a clear day, no storms or electrical activity. I thought this was strange, can you venture an opinion on why this should occur. I'm puzzled.
Thanks,
Pat
NO, FENOSA IS NOT READING THE METER WRONG. THE METER READING IS SENT TO ME DAILY BY THE RENTER AS I AM LOOKING FOR VARIATIONS DAILY. THANK'S TO ALL FOR YOU INPUT.
Some times burglars will shut of breakers on the main panel typically located at the meter before they strike.
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