Electric range

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

sparks1

Senior Member
Location
Massachusetts
Appliance technician is having a problem with the range voltage. He says the range won't heat up because the reading at the terminals is A-Grd 220v, A-B 220v and N-B nothing. It's a new range plugged into an existing 3-wire outlet. I've checked all the connections & bonding jumper in place ok. When the range load is unplugged the voltage at the outlet is normal and it reads A-B 220V,A-Grd 120v, B-Grd 120v. I've checked everything out at the main panel.
What's going on?
Is there a problem with the range?
I suspect it might be a problem with the utility transformer. Anyone have this problem before?

[ September 28, 2005, 10:23 PM: Message edited by: sparks1 ]
 
Re: Electric range

I suspect it might be a problem with the utility transformer
Click to expand...
If your voltage at the receptacle is correct why would you think that there is any problem with the wiring?
 
Re: Electric range

[/QUOTE]If your voltage at the receptacle is correct why would you think that there is any problem with the wiring? [/QB][/QUOTE]

Adding a load to the circuit can change the voltage values. The wiring is good.
I've seen Lineman load test the sevice at the meter to determine if the transformer can carry a certain amount load.

[ September 28, 2005, 10:25 PM: Message edited by: sparks1 ]
 
Re: Electric range

if all other loads are normal its gotta be the range see if breaker is ok or if breaker is getting good contact?
 
Re: Electric range

Check to see if the middle wire on the 3-wire cord is terminated to the correct place. It sounds like A & G wires are terminated in the opposite places somewhere. Check connections at the breaker, the receptacle, the terminals, and the internal wiring of the range. (It could be wired wrong from the factory)

What was wrong, if anything, with the original range? Any lights dimming or getting brighter when it was used? (Open Nuetral?)

To get an accurate voltage reading you'll have to test the terminals while the stove is plugged in and turned on.

Dave
 
Re: Electric range

Originally posted by normbac:
if all other loads are normal its gotta be the range see if breaker is ok or if breaker is getting good contact?
Click to expand...
There are no other 220v loads in use at this time. The breaker checks out ok.

I'm sure the poco has come across this type of problem when they load test the service.
Any sugestions?
 
Re: Electric range

Originally posted by davedottcom:
Check to see if the middle wire on the 3-wire cord is terminated to the correct place. It sounds like A & G wires are terminated in the opposite places somewhere. Check connections at the breaker, the receptacle, the terminals, and the internal wiring of the range.
This all checks out ok.
(It could be wired wrong from the factory)
It could be...

What was wrong, if anything, with the original range? Any lights dimming or getting brighter when it was used? (Open Nuetral?)

The original range was gas.

To get an accurate voltage reading you'll have to test the terminals while the stove is plugged in and turned on.

The results of this were given by the technician at the beginning of the thread.
Dave
Click to expand...

[ September 29, 2005, 07:35 AM: Message edited by: sparks1 ]
 
Re: Electric range

Dave has started you down the only possible path to an answer. Here's my thinking:
</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">With the range plugged in, you have 220 volts A-B. That must necessarily mean that the A and B wires within the range are connected properly to the A and B phases at the receptacle.</font>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"></font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">With the range plugged in, you have 0 volts B-N. That must necessarily mean that the B and N wires within the range are connected to each other.</font>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"></font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">With the range plugged in, you have 220 volts A-N. That confirms the assertion that the B and N wires within the range are connected to each other.</font>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The wiring error might be internal to the range, or it might be at the point at which the cord connects to the range, or it might be within the cord. But B and N are connected to each other in one of these three places.
 
Re: Electric range

Sparks1, The reason I asked if the old range was having problems was because I thought it might have been a mis-diagnosed open neutral, but since it was gas that's out. Actually, there is still a slight chance it could be an open neutral in the service but I doubt it. it's sounding like the internal range wiring to me. You can disconnect the internal wiring completely and check volts again at the terminals. If your power is in the right places time to return the range! :)

Dave
 
Re: Electric range

The other day I fixed my AC unit buy banging on it and cursing at it...you could give that a try! :)

Dave [/QB][/QUOTE]
Thanks for the tip
 
Re: Electric range

Originally posted by infinity:
I suspect it might be a problem with the utility transformer
Click to expand...
If your voltage at the receptacle is correct why would you think that there is any problem with the wiring?
Click to expand...
Just to follow up with troubleshooting the range. It turns out, I was losing part of the neutral to cause 147 volt to ground on A and 80 volts to ground on B.
Ran a temp neutral wire from range to panel to confirm this. Everything is good now except I gave the job of running the new wire to some other electrician because the customer was a royal pain in the neck.

[ October 05, 2005, 03:04 PM: Message edited by: sparks1 ]
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top