Amperage on Neutral

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inspector 102

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Location
Northern Indiana
My neice has been having high electrical bills so I went over to see what might be drawing so much power. The A phase showed 24.3 Amps, B phase was 32.2 amp and the neutral was 7.8 amps. Admittedly, I am not an electrical engineer, only an inspector, but I question if that read would be normal. Items that were running in the home at the time of reading was the electric dryer and a heat pump unit. I guess I am trying to make sure that electricity is not bleeding off somewhere causing the high bill. Thanks
 
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inspector 102

Senior Member
Location
Northern Indiana
I was not sure whether the reading was high, I just know the bill was high. Having not done alot of trouble shooting, I was starting with simple items and then moving on. I am going to try to determine just how much the heat pump is pulling and what the $ per Kw is for her provider. Might be as simple as different rates and lazy sons that can't close a door behind them. Since it has been below 30 degrees for the last 3 months, that could be the problem. Kepp the heat pump, replace the sons.
 
roger

roger

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Location
Fl
Occupation
Retired Electrician
As Greg said, it is doing it's job and there doesn't seem to be any stray current flowing elsewhere 32.2 - 24.8 = 7.9


Roger
 
Jim W in Tampa

Jim W in Tampa

Senior Member
Location
Tampa Florida
Many factors into high bills. Heat pump could be low on freon and making it work harder. Insulation might not be enough. Check duck work for leaks. The way to check for electrical leaks is with breakers on turn off everything and then clamp amp meter on it. My bill last month was $455 really not shocked as they raised rates.
 
brian john

brian john

Senior Member
Location
Leesburg, VA
Best way to save utility cost turn off the lights (after installing CFL's), dry clothes in full loads, lower the thermostat and replace appliances with higher efficiency new units.
 
480sparky

480sparky

Senior Member
Location
Iowegia
Do not look at the dollar amount of the power bill. Look at the kilowatts consumed. That is the only thing that matters.

You may have simply passed an anniversary on your budget billing plan, and your bill was adjusted according to your past years' usages.
 
T

TexasMaster

Member
Location
Lubbock Texas
I hear HVAC problem. Is there no other source of heat on that furnace? Heat pumps can do nothing but consume electricity below freezing temperatures, that is why most of them have an ambient control at the condensing unit that tell the system to switch to an auxiliary source. If your anywhere where the temp is that low for that long you need to have another source of heat.
 
T

TexasMaster

Member
Location
Lubbock Texas
HotConductor said:
If you've had a cold winter like we've had in Pa. the heat pump was running alot on electric backup. This will dramatically increase her costs.
Click to expand...

that’s exactly what it needs to do to efficiently and effectively heat. You'll waste much more money running a h/p this way. Try it out, your jaw will hit the floor of your chilly house when you open that bill.:grin:
 
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Jim W in Tampa

Jim W in Tampa

Senior Member
Location
Tampa Florida
LarryFine said:
Yeah, that first megawatt is always a killer. :cool:
Click to expand...

Actually the first is at a cheap rate on residential . about 10 cents . No clue why, we just put up with it and pay the bill. Am looking into solar but dought it could pay off.

Also looking into some new fangled thing called a SWITCH
 
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