I live in an apartment and I recently discovered that my air conditioner unit is crosswired. Part of it is wired to a double 40 breaker in my apartment and the rest of it is wired to another apartment. Then by shutting off the breaker above it, which is a double 20, I can turn off someone else's air conditioner. The other problem is that although my a/c is on the double 40, very little of it registers to my meter, instead when I turn it on it causes the meter next to it to spin rapidly. My meter is taking a rather large hit from the other a/c unit and unfortunately for me, they run their a/c 24/7. I have told my apartment complex about this problem, but they don't believe me. I called the local building inspector's office and they said that they can enforce a potential code violation and they don't know who could. My only chance to get this resolved is to file suit. I need expert opinions on this problem. I also want to know if there is an agency I can contact to get them sited for improper wiring, so they would have to fix my wiring. My other concern is that this may not be an isolated incidence in this complex. I live in the Dallas area. And, yes, I have spoken with the local electic company here and they say that it is the apartment property's problem and they need to call out an electrician to check the breakers.
Question about my a/c unit being crosswired
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gregoryelectricinc
Senior Member
Re: Question about my a/c unit being crosswired
Suggestion: If you are correct about the A/C's being wired to the wrong meter and electrical panel and the apt. manager won't fix it....... Turn off your neighbor's A/C and see how long it takes before the apt. management takes care of the issue. It's gotta be at least 110 degrrees in dallas tommorow.
Suggestion: If you are correct about the A/C's being wired to the wrong meter and electrical panel and the apt. manager won't fix it....... Turn off your neighbor's A/C and see how long it takes before the apt. management takes care of the issue. It's gotta be at least 110 degrrees in dallas tommorow.
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: Question about my a/c unit being crosswired
In the NY area the Utility Company usually deals with this type of situation and the inspection agency also gets involved. I was involved in a similar situation, and the Utility company fined the building owner. Press the point and like mentioned in the other post, leave the power off to the other apartment. " The squeaky wheel gets all the oil".
Keep your cool about this!
Pierre
In the NY area the Utility Company usually deals with this type of situation and the inspection agency also gets involved. I was involved in a similar situation, and the Utility company fined the building owner. Press the point and like mentioned in the other post, leave the power off to the other apartment. " The squeaky wheel gets all the oil".
Keep your cool about this!
Pierre
renosteinke
Senior Member
- Location
- NE Arkansas
Re: Question about my a/c unit being crosswired
Different services in the same panel, without disconnect? Sounds like a violation to me!
Try the poco again- in writing! Also, try the city. Finally, consider suing for the stolen power.
Different services in the same panel, without disconnect? Sounds like a violation to me!
Try the poco again- in writing! Also, try the city. Finally, consider suing for the stolen power.
Re: Question about my a/c unit being crosswired
240.24(B).
The general text of 240.24(B) has been in the NEC since 1971 for the occupant to have 'ready access' to their OCPD's.
In reality, previous to the 1971 NEC issue, the 'ready access' has been in the NEC, at least since 1956 - my oldest NEC book, under 2435 which states:
"2435. Location in premises. Overcurrent devices shall be located where they will be:
a. Readily accessible, except as provided in section 2372 for service equipment and section 3650 for busways.
b. Not exposed to mechanical injury.
c. Not in vicinity of easily ignitible material."
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I would think, in it's day, that subsection a. of 2435 would be the same as todays' 240.24(B).
240.24(B).
The general text of 240.24(B) has been in the NEC since 1971 for the occupant to have 'ready access' to their OCPD's.
In reality, previous to the 1971 NEC issue, the 'ready access' has been in the NEC, at least since 1956 - my oldest NEC book, under 2435 which states:
"2435. Location in premises. Overcurrent devices shall be located where they will be:
a. Readily accessible, except as provided in section 2372 for service equipment and section 3650 for busways.
b. Not exposed to mechanical injury.
c. Not in vicinity of easily ignitible material."
****
I would think, in it's day, that subsection a. of 2435 would be the same as todays' 240.24(B).
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: Question about my a/c unit being crosswired
Glenn has the correct take on this with "The general text of 240.24(B) has been in the NEC since 1971 for the occupant to have 'ready access' to their OCPD's." as well as Bennie with "You have solved your problem with your last sentence."
Generally speaking, each electric utility has the same policy as we do. "Each individual meter fitting in all multiple meter installations shall be correctly identified by a permanent form of metal tag (or the equivalent thereof) which indicates the building address and type of service to be served by each meter. Markings with pencil, crayon, paper tags, etc. will not be acceptable. Insofar as practical, it is preferable in multi-family dwellings that the numbering arrangement be in an orderly sequence in each group. Multi-meter installations not identified will not be connected. The Company will install and bill meters in multiple installations according to markings supplied by the electrical contractor and under no circumstances assumes responsibility for errors which are the result of incorrectly identified meter fittings."
Glenn has the correct take on this with "The general text of 240.24(B) has been in the NEC since 1971 for the occupant to have 'ready access' to their OCPD's." as well as Bennie with "You have solved your problem with your last sentence."
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