Spikes/Surges

[jmellc]

I recently did a service call where a receptacle had burned up 2 different cell phone and battery chargers. Homeowner showed me where and arc had shot out and burned a mark on the floor. Everything I've seen before like that has been from a lost neutral. Old FPE panel, all I could find was a slightly loose main neutral lug; lug rubs a bit against the bar, not exactly a gap. I took apart and put a new lock washer in back , tightened again. Was better, still a tad of slipping. I asked power co to check their splices and transformers nearby. They said they found nothing. I saw no burn marks at the lug, not sure that was the only culprit but all I could find. Cases I've seen before happened from neutral/ground jumpers removed, loose neutral in panel or meter base, or loose neutral in transformer or service head splice.

It's been about 2 weeks; no further problems yet. Any similar experiences with any of you?

 

[brian john]

I recently did a service call where a receptacle had burned up 2 different cell phone and battery chargers. Homeowner showed me where and arc had shot out and burned a mark on the floor. Everything I've seen before like that has been from a lost neutral. Old FPE panel, all I could find was a slightly loose main neutral lug; lug rubs a bit against the bar, not exactly a gap. I took apart and put a new lock washer in back , tightened again. Was better, still a tad of slipping. I asked power co to check their splices and transformers nearby. They said they found nothing. I saw no burn marks at the lug, not sure that was the only culprit but all I could find. Cases I've seen before happened from neutral/ground jumpers removed, loose neutral in panel or meter base, or loose neutral in transformer or service head splice.

It's been about 2 weeks; no further problems yet. Any similar experiences with any of you?

I fail to see how a loose or missing neutral to ground bond could affect this under the situation you describe.

It seems like a clasic loose neutral, was this a multiwire circuit? The only issue with the loose feeder and utilty neutral, gemnerally you would expect more equipment to be damaged.

 

[robbietan]

could the charger caused the burn? I know these things carry capacitors (or caps equivalent thingies) and some poorly made chargers do a lot of things aside from burning cellphones. Like setting fire to a nearby newspaper stand.

 

[LarryFine]

I fail to see how a loose or missing neutral to ground bond could affect this under the situation you describe.

Unless:

It seems like a clasic loose neutral, was this a multiwire circuit?

I was thinking the same thing. Look for a second (black or red) line conductor in the box.

The only issue with the loose feeder and utilty neutral, gemnerally you would expect more equipment to be damaged.

I tend to agree. He should do a line-to-line voltage comparison, with loads on.


I have had customers with service neutral issues, and small wall-warts seem to suffer every time.

 

[jmellc]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks for the feedback. I haven't heard back from the customer; I assume all is OK now. I need to call him again to follow up.

Wasn't a multiwire ckt & I didn't find any other loose connection, yet I'm not sure I found the whole problem. As I said, the neutral lug was slightly loose on the bar and would move slightly when tightened down with a wrench.

Being an FPE panel, I'd love to replace it altogether but landlord couldn't swing that at the time. I hate FPE, Zinsco and GE. Such junk should have never been made. Oh, but it was UL approved.