A friend of mine asked me what would make a growling sound, near/around the meter socket. I answered with, there's a loose neutral somewhere (in the meter socket itself maybe or going to the main panel). Friend said all the connections were tight, and that the POCO was out to check it out, and told him the problem was on his side. Any ideas?
meter growl
- Thread starter footerr
- Start date
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bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: meter growl
Perhaps your friend was stepping on the tail of an alligator when standing near the meter enclosure? I have never heard electrical equipment "growl"... buzz maybe, but not growl.
Have you friend eliminate any possible coincidences such as opening garage doors or caged bears in the area. If it can be determined that the noise is directly related to the electrical equipment itself, you may be able to narrow it down to one load or appliance. Vibrations from heavy current flow could be interpreted as a growl under the right conditions I suppose.
Perhaps your friend was stepping on the tail of an alligator when standing near the meter enclosure? I have never heard electrical equipment "growl"... buzz maybe, but not growl.
Have you friend eliminate any possible coincidences such as opening garage doors or caged bears in the area. If it can be determined that the noise is directly related to the electrical equipment itself, you may be able to narrow it down to one load or appliance. Vibrations from heavy current flow could be interpreted as a growl under the right conditions I suppose.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: meter growl
Maybe your friend was just hungry, and it was his stomach growling? :roll:
Maybe your friend was just hungry, and it was his stomach growling? :roll:
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Re: meter growl
I would ask what kind of meter is it? Is it electronic or an older motor driven type that spins as the current flows through it. I've seen some pretty old rotary type meters that got kind of noisy in their old age.
I would ask what kind of meter is it? Is it electronic or an older motor driven type that spins as the current flows through it. I've seen some pretty old rotary type meters that got kind of noisy in their old age.
Re: meter growl
A lineman friend of mine told me that as the meters get old, the bearings get dry and make a noise. Not sure about growling, but it is a noise. I told him that the one at my house did that. "Should I have it replaced?" I asked...he said no way, the meter runs slower with the bad bearings!
mike
A lineman friend of mine told me that as the meters get old, the bearings get dry and make a noise. Not sure about growling, but it is a noise. I told him that the one at my house did that. "Should I have it replaced?" I asked...he said no way, the meter runs slower with the bad bearings!
mike
B
bthielen
Guest
Re: meter growl
This question may be way out there but here goes. I don't know anything about these meters so please bear with me. If the bearings in the meter are causing it to drag excessively, will the result be similar to a motor whereas the current through the meter would increase due to the excessive load? If so, could this also cause a voltage drop problem to the load such as a home?
Bob
This question may be way out there but here goes. I don't know anything about these meters so please bear with me. If the bearings in the meter are causing it to drag excessively, will the result be similar to a motor whereas the current through the meter would increase due to the excessive load? If so, could this also cause a voltage drop problem to the load such as a home?
Bob
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: meter growl
I don't know much about the meters either. But my inclination is to think that they operate in parallel with the power going into the house. Essentially, they are taking a remote measurement, and they do not alter the voltage or current as seen by the house panel.
I don't know much about the meters either. But my inclination is to think that they operate in parallel with the power going into the house. Essentially, they are taking a remote measurement, and they do not alter the voltage or current as seen by the house panel.
B
bthielen
Guest
Re: meter growl
My thought was that under normal conditions the meter shouldn't load the system. But then, if the bearings or whatever are dragging could the meter become a resistance that would act as a voltage divider with the house load? With this idea in mind, I was thinking along the lines that this could counteract any power measurement benefits.
Bob
My thought was that under normal conditions the meter shouldn't load the system. But then, if the bearings or whatever are dragging could the meter become a resistance that would act as a voltage divider with the house load? With this idea in mind, I was thinking along the lines that this could counteract any power measurement benefits.
Bob
TOMWELDS
Member
- Location
- Westchester Cty. New York
Re: meter growl
Gotta assume they checked their meter, right? One would hope. Is the SE wire in conduit? Maybe a bad main breaker is echoing down the pipe into the enclosure? Just a wild guess.
Gotta assume they checked their meter, right? One would hope. Is the SE wire in conduit? Maybe a bad main breaker is echoing down the pipe into the enclosure? Just a wild guess.
TOMWELDS
Member
- Location
- Westchester Cty. New York
Re: meter growl
If all else fails, take a rock, crack the meter and call the utility for a replacement...LOL
If all else fails, take a rock, crack the meter and call the utility for a replacement...LOL
Re: meter growl
the meter can was blown apart, and the transformer also had to be replaced.
The battery backup still ran the alarm and the police had the guys in the car when i got there.
I went on a emergancy service replacement one nite. robbers had taken a brick and thrown it at a meter to turn off power to the building alarm system, at a C store.
the meter can was blown apart, and the transformer also had to be replaced.
The battery backup still ran the alarm and the police had the guys in the car when i got there.
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: meter growl
A self contained meter has a bus going straight through the meter and a CT around the bus to run the motor (the wheel). Everything is run from the gears from the motor. I don't know how the electronic meters work but that is about all we have left on our system. We have replaced about all of the mechanical meters with electronic meters so they may be remotely read.
A self contained meter has a bus going straight through the meter and a CT around the bus to run the motor (the wheel). Everything is run from the gears from the motor. I don't know how the electronic meters work but that is about all we have left on our system. We have replaced about all of the mechanical meters with electronic meters so they may be remotely read.
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