Doinedaname
Member
- Location
- Washington PA
- Occupation
- EE PE self employed
A construction buddy against my advice installed an electric on demand water heater in his father's house. It used 2x 60 amp feeds and was installed into a 200 amp panel. The water heater after briefly putting out hot water starts putting out warm water at best. What I found out was the voltage at the water heater was dipping and the unit would only heat the water as much as the line could supply. In this case it would pull the 240v supply down to 220v and try to keep it there. I went back to the main panel and got on the utility side of the main breaker and got the same voltage reading. 240v with no water heater load and 220v when running. I then inspected the outside and looked at the meter and the mast and seen the insulation on the utility line from the transformer was a little cracked. I thought the connection may be corroded because of water getting in so I re-crimped both phases and neutral. Same results and even when measured at the top of the mast it was 240v no load and 220v when running. There were no other major electrical appliances running at the time. I did put an amp clamp on but don't rember the exact reading but they were well below 200.
The service is 175', actual measurement, of #2 AL cable to the transformer. The transformer is shared with another house and a garage. I don't know what load the house has but the garage is the owners and it had no to very little load at the time we were doing this troubleshooting.
The owner got with the utility company and this is what they came up with. The first trip a lineman looked at it and said nothing was wrong. After explaining the situation more someone went out and said that for $5200 they will move the transformer closer to the house.
The owner then went out and returned the instant hot water heater in put a new conventional one in. Problem solved for him.
My question is what does the utility owe the costumer? The house was built with a 200 amp service but it seems they cant even get close to providing that. The utility seems to be in the position to just say too bad so sad. If it matters this is in Pennsylvania and West Penn Power/First Energy. If the customer pushed it who should he talk to?
The service is 175', actual measurement, of #2 AL cable to the transformer. The transformer is shared with another house and a garage. I don't know what load the house has but the garage is the owners and it had no to very little load at the time we were doing this troubleshooting.
The owner got with the utility company and this is what they came up with. The first trip a lineman looked at it and said nothing was wrong. After explaining the situation more someone went out and said that for $5200 they will move the transformer closer to the house.
The owner then went out and returned the instant hot water heater in put a new conventional one in. Problem solved for him.
My question is what does the utility owe the costumer? The house was built with a 200 amp service but it seems they cant even get close to providing that. The utility seems to be in the position to just say too bad so sad. If it matters this is in Pennsylvania and West Penn Power/First Energy. If the customer pushed it who should he talk to?