|
|
Post by FrankenMech on Jan 5, 2021 19:40:19 GMT -5
I checked the amp draw on my house electrical box today. I found something strange...
My electrical service is a fairly new upgraded 200A service, about 5 years old. I check current balance occasionally.
One hot leg was drawing 6.5A Other hot leg was drawing 7.5A I expected to see the difference of 1.0A on the neutral, but I found ~4.5A, varying from 4.0 to 5.0A!!!
Normally I have found just the difference but today was different and successive readings showed the same situation over about an hours time.
My neighbor has an old 1962 100A electrical service off the same transformer that has given them problems. I am wondering if the neighbor's neutral connection is broken and is feeding back through my ground rod and then my neutral to the transformer. Their house and electrical service is 20' away from mine. We are the only two residences served off a single 15KVA transformer.
I am considering calling the power company.
|
|
|
|
Post by 190mech on Jan 5, 2021 20:10:32 GMT -5
Had a similar condition at the shop,got a buddy in the electric business take a look and he said the neutral leg had a bad connection..Got the power company come and trace it down to a crappy crimp connection on the neutral leg at the transformer!
|
|
|
|
Post by FrankenMech on Jan 5, 2021 22:55:20 GMT -5
Hmmm, electrically I can't see how it would be in my drop, but I can see how it would be in the neighbor's drop. I forget what the power company calls the construction of the old drops used on our houses. It is two hot conductors wrapped with a neutral 'shield' looking conductor. Mine was upgraded to a triplex run when I upgraded my 100A service to 200A to accommodate my 7.5hp lathe and 5hp compressor. I do think it is going to have to be the power company that tracks it down. It has worked as expected for the last 5 years with the differential current in my panel appearing on my neutral leg. This just surprised me. I don't get charged for neutral current but I do get charged for all of those spikes.
Ordinarily I would just ask to check their panel but the house is vacant at the moment. An open neutral on the neighbors panel causes all kinds of voltage spikes on the associated equipment and will try to play hob with my equipment. I also have transient suppressors which could explain some of the spikes I see. My panel equipment is trying to protect their house through an earth ground loop. I will have to sit down and draw a diagram.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tanuki on Jan 9, 2021 1:49:12 GMT -5
I checked the amp draw on my house electrical box today. I found something strange...
My electrical service is a fairly new upgraded 200A service, about 5 years old. I check current balance occasionally.
One hot leg was drawing 6.5A Other hot leg was drawing 7.5A I expected to see the difference of 1.0A on the neutral, but I found ~4.5A, varying from 4.0 to 5.0A!!!
Normally I have found just the difference but today was different and successive readings showed the same situation over about an hours time.
My neighbor has an old 1962 100A electrical service off the same transformer that has given them problems. I am wondering if the neighbor's neutral connection is broken and is feeding back through my ground rod and then my neutral to the transformer. Their house and electrical service is 20' away from mine. We are the only two residences served off a single 15KVA transformer.
I am considering calling the power company.
My neutral line was loose up on the pole once, it was like living in a haunted house. |
|
|
|
Post by FrankenMech on Jan 9, 2021 2:47:23 GMT -5
I have had a bad neutral connection before but this time I am getting none of the 'haunted house' problems in my house. My voltage is stable. Since next door is vacant the power co has it on a back burner. Recent storm damage is more important.
|
|
|
|
Post by FrankenMech on Jan 12, 2021 16:25:45 GMT -5
I have been checking the neutral current and the last few days it has been stable. I have not seen a power co truck around but they could have been here. I will keep an eye on it. The house next door seems to have power but I have no idea who is paying the bill. I believe the family is trying to sell it. The owner has been put in a rest home.
|
|
|
|
Post by FrankenMech on Feb 13, 2021 7:18:26 GMT -5
Update: No problems have been observed recently. I would love to know what the problem was.
|
|
|
|
Post by jloi on Feb 13, 2021 11:00:39 GMT -5
guess you're gettin hard hit from the cold. hope the elec hangs in . stay warm .
|
|
|
|
Post by FrankenMech on Feb 13, 2021 11:35:19 GMT -5
I have a generator, -if it will start. I have space heaters, camping equipment, and wood for the fireplace insert also.
Cold tomorrow, +4°F now. 3 year old gas furnace is doing great. I just hope I can get the AC running this summer. |
|
|
|
Post by aeroxbud on Feb 13, 2021 19:19:40 GMT -5
That is seriously cold. In those temperatures you need a back up source of heat.
Stay warm.
|
|
|
|
Post by woodini on Feb 13, 2021 19:43:52 GMT -5
Good lord 🥶 stay warm!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by jloi on Feb 13, 2021 20:38:24 GMT -5
bring that poor cat inside
|
|
|
|
Post by FrankenMech on Feb 13, 2021 22:25:59 GMT -5
Cant find the cat 
As long as I get natural gas and electric I am OK. when the temps get like this sometimes they have trouble keeping the pressure up in the distribution lines.
|
|
