Troubleshooting question

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Barndog

Senior Member
Location
Spring Creek Pa
I am to go look at a problem saturday. HO says about 1/2 of there house is without power after a storm. I was figuring they lost a phase. the more i think about it. I believe she said they have a electric range. Now I am leaning to the fact breakers went bad during stove. POCO has been there and says nothing wrong with there lines. Any help in where to start. I was going to start at Main lugs in panel.

thanks in advance
 

Hv&Lv

Senior Member
Location
-
Occupation
Engineer/Technician
Start checking voltage at the top of the main, work down. My bet is a bad breaker since she didn't say anything about bright and dim lights. Also, could be only one single phase breaker bad or tripped that happens to serve the part of the house she lives in most. Most HO's don't know half the house (lost phase) from half the house (one breaker that serves alot)...
 
Location
NE (9.06 miles @5.9 Degrees from Winged Horses)
Occupation
EC - retired
One breaker could very well serve half the house as far as some homes are concerned. GEs can be pretty tricky to the average HO when they trip as is a Pushmatic. Without the bright/dim lighting and or smoke, I am with Hv&Lv. I've sure tightened up or changed a fuse as well while I have been maturing.
 

Speshulk

Senior Member
Location
NY
Start checking voltage at the top of the main, work down. My bet is a bad breaker since she didn't say anything about bright and dim lights. Also, could be only one single phase breaker bad or tripped that happens to serve the part of the house she lives in most. Most HO's don't know half the house (lost phase) from half the house (one breaker that serves alot)...

Isn't it amazing how many times "half the house" is just one circuit?
 

Barndog

Senior Member
Location
Spring Creek Pa
Thank you all for your reply's. I am not going in with any preconcived ideas. So i don't over look anything just wanted to see some ideas from all of you. I will start at the top of the main and work from there.
 

GerryB

Senior Member
I had the POCO tell a HO one time everything on their end was good. It was a burnt out crimp up top that would make and break intermittently. They only checked it at the meter, plus she had told them it goes out and comes back on sometimes. I'm sure we'd all like to know what you find.
 

Barndog

Senior Member
Location
Spring Creek Pa
I had the POCO tell a HO one time everything on their end was good. It was a burnt out crimp up top that would make and break intermittently. They only checked it at the meter, plus she had told them it goes out and comes back on sometimes. I'm sure we'd all like to know what you find.

I will let you know what i find out
 
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