Pool Heater

[Mjohnson2586]

I came a crossed a pool heater today that was failing I believe. The crazy thing is that is was only a 120v pool heater but it was causing the entire service to be unbalanced i.e. there was 90v on A phase and 150v on B phase. This is only the cause when pool heater is running. I tested everything at meter with heater off and it checks out.

Can any one tell me why this is. Besides there might be a heating coil going bad.

 

[ActionDave]

Classic symptom of a bad neutral, maybe with the homeowner's equipment, maybe with the power company.

 

[Mjohnson2586]

Classic symptom of a bad neutral, maybe with the homeowner's equipment, maybe with the power company.

That is what I thought but the other pumps and pool equipment was working just fine and the rest of the pool house.

 

[infinity]

was only a 120v pool heater but it was causing the entire service to be unbalanced i.e. there was 90v on A phase and 150v on B phase.

It sounds like this is only possible with a bad system neutral.

 

[Fred B]

Typical of a poor neutral on service. Will usually present like this with loads applied otherwise would look normal. Likely the phase with drop would shift if you put the load on the opposite line.

 

[texie]

As I always say with these types of post, the magic smoke is coming soon. Classic weak/intermitant neutral.