- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Hospital Master Electrician
Had an odd call today. Awhile back, I traced an underground fault on a #2 URD run from a POCO pedestal to a HOA panelboard. At the time, the pro lem was 60V at the panel. One leg had been abandoned in the past, and the two breakers in use were moved to the same leg. The previously abandoned leg could not be located, and I gave up on it entirely, and won't return to it.
I located a fault in the partially damaged leg, and the hole was finally dug this morning.
The conductors were corroded clear through, one phase and the neutral, about a foot apart from each other. One conductor was corroded along it's length for a foot, the other had a focused area of corrosion that went all the way through.
I know this may sound like a stupid question, but what caused this? This cable was probably between five and ten years old, tops.
After the repair, I still read only 106v at the panel (121v at service, 1.5A load) and a quick check with the 1507 showed a resistance to earth of .02 megaohms and a max voltage of 32 VDC.
There are no rocks in the backfill, and I have a hard time believing that a cable could get abused so badly in installation. Thoughts?
I have advised against further locates and digs, and have advised to plan on digging a new trench through the landscaping and installing conduit this go around.
I located a fault in the partially damaged leg, and the hole was finally dug this morning.
The conductors were corroded clear through, one phase and the neutral, about a foot apart from each other. One conductor was corroded along it's length for a foot, the other had a focused area of corrosion that went all the way through.
I know this may sound like a stupid question, but what caused this? This cable was probably between five and ten years old, tops.
After the repair, I still read only 106v at the panel (121v at service, 1.5A load) and a quick check with the 1507 showed a resistance to earth of .02 megaohms and a max voltage of 32 VDC.
There are no rocks in the backfill, and I have a hard time believing that a cable could get abused so badly in installation. Thoughts?
I have advised against further locates and digs, and have advised to plan on digging a new trench through the landscaping and installing conduit this go around.