PDA

View Full Version : Help with service call.

brittle
06-30-2009, 11:48 PM
I had a service call this morning at a residence with a 200 fuse panel. The customer said some minor work had been completed on the panel the previous day replacing a blown fuse. Since the work had been completed her appliance seem to be running hot and omit an odor similar to a burning smell. She demonstrated the problem with the cloths dryer and I agree. The voltage across phases is 246 volts, 123 volts each. The utility checked the transformer and it checcked okay. Not sure where to go from here. Any ideas what would cause many of the appliances to run hot and emit an order?
480sparky
06-30-2009, 11:50 PM
Turn off circuits one at a time, and check voltage L1-L2, L1-N and L2-N. If there's no changes, turn them off one at a time, but only those on one leg or phase. See if you've got a loose/open neutral.
brittle
06-30-2009, 11:55 PM
Going back in the morning. Will give it a try.

Many thanks!
SiddMartin
06-30-2009, 11:57 PM
Turn off circuits one at a time, and check voltage L1-L2, L1-N and L2-N. If there's no changes, turn them off one at a time, but only those on one leg or phase. See if you've got a loose/open neutral.


off or on?
ItsHot
07-01-2009, 12:02 AM
Could be just a problem within the cloths dryer.
480sparky
07-01-2009, 12:10 AM
off or on?

Off. A loose noodle will show up as a voltage imbalance in L1-N and L2-N
charlietuna
07-01-2009, 10:23 AM
The recorded voltage seems normal. Sounds like whatever you smell is what caused the 200 amp fuse to blow. I would ask for more information concerning the original problem.
Smart $
07-01-2009, 10:55 AM
Off. A loose noodle will show up as a voltage imbalance in L1-N and L2-N
If an imbalance does not show up at the panel and MWBC's are used, the loose noodle may be in the branch circuit wiring.
480sparky
07-01-2009, 01:51 PM
If an imbalance does not show up at the panel and MWBC's are used, the loose noodle may be in the branch circuit wiring.

Then it may be more than one.
boboelectric
07-01-2009, 09:55 PM
I had a service call this morning at a residence with a 200 fuse panel. The customer said some minor work had been completed on the panel the previous day replacing a blown fuse. Since the work had been completed her appliance seem to be running hot and omit an odor similar to a burning smell. She demonstrated the problem with the cloths dryer and I agree. The voltage across phases is 246 volts, 123 volts each. The utility checked the transformer and it checcked okay. Not sure where to go from here. Any ideas what would cause many of the appliances to run hot and emit an order?

I'd say "get them back".
Rewire
07-02-2009, 03:24 PM
Off. A loose noodle will show up as a voltage imbalance in L1-N and L2-N

side bar question, how long has the term "noodle' been used to describe the neutral?
ultramegabob
07-02-2009, 03:29 PM
side bar question, how long has the term "noodle' been used to describe the neutral?

I have heard it on here a couple of times, but other than that its new to me...
K8MHZ
07-02-2009, 05:34 PM
The recorded voltage seems normal. Sounds like whatever you smell is what caused the 200 amp fuse to blow. I would ask for more information concerning the original problem.

I missed the part where it was said a 200 amp fuse blew.
vinster888
07-02-2009, 10:38 PM
after the reference of the fuse panel i would assume that the appliances havent been replaced in a while either. has anyone pulled these appliances away from the wall? how many cats does she have?
nakulak
07-02-2009, 11:46 PM
... what would cause many of the appliances to run hot and emit an order?

what did the appliance say ? ("take me to your leader", "I want a grilled cheese sandwhich", "do the hokey pokey " ?)
Article 90.1
07-04-2009, 11:05 AM
I had a call like this a few months ago. It turned out to be that connect the screw in fuse holder shell to the buss was loose, and would arc when the load of the electric clothes dryer was running. I'd go through and tighten all connections in that panel.

Perhaps a panel change is in order?
boboelectric
07-05-2009, 05:46 PM
what did the appliance say ? ("take me to your leader", "I want a grilled cheese sandwhich", "do the hokey pokey " ?)

That made my weekend!
busman
07-05-2009, 10:09 PM
omit an odor similar to a burning smell. She demonstrated the problem with the cloths dryer and I agree. The voltage across phases is 246 volts, 123 volts each. The utility checked the transformer and it checcked okay. Not sure where to go from here. Any ideas what would cause many of the appliances to run hot and emit an order?

omit an odor or emit an order, just don't omit my order.

Mark
LarryFine
07-05-2009, 11:15 PM
omit an odor or emit an order, just don't omit my order.
The first one gets my vote! 8-)
brittle
07-07-2009, 08:54 AM
Never did isolate the problem. The customer wanted a panel change out to a circuit breaker panel. Completed the project and no further comments from the customer.
hillbilly
07-07-2009, 10:00 AM
Never did isolate the problem. The customer wanted a panel change out to a circuit breaker panel. Completed the project and no further comments from the customer.


Not even a "man you do good work" or "that really cost more than I thought it would" or last but not least "I really though it would cost a lot more".:)

steve