Can stray voltage in the ground damage an AC compressor i have a situation where service cable was nicked which leaked voltage into the ground and customer is claiming his AC compressors where damaged. He is also claiming voltage to his pool lights I said that he needed to check his pool panel and bonding which is obviously not working properly if his GFIC where working that should not have happened. I just don't know if his AC guy is telling the truth any info would greatly be appreciated.
Stray voltage
- Thread starter Sparky84
- Start date
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zbang
Senior Member
- Location
- Roughly 5346 miles from Earls Court
Compressor damage- highly doubtful
Pool- don't trust what the customer said, measure it yourself.
If you haven't already, search the forums for some of the discussion of "stray voltage", there's a lot of good stuff.
Pool- don't trust what the customer said, measure it yourself.
If you haven't already, search the forums for some of the discussion of "stray voltage", there's a lot of good stuff.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Voltage leaking from a nick in the conductor insulation, would not damage any electrical motor.
Were you ever taught it might?
This type of fault is fairly common and is one reason why we have GFCIs.
Were you ever taught it might?
This type of fault is fairly common and is one reason why we have GFCIs.
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ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
Is this a faulted underground service cable that has failed?
No just trying to justify my response to the AC contractor.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
The AC contractor wants to push the blame to you.
It is not possible to prove a negative, so it should be up to him to provide evidence or documentation supporting his claim.
It is line side conductor going to generator that they are claiming was damage or nicked and leaking voltage and causing the pool issue and the burned out AC units
Eddie702
Licensed Electrician
- Location
- Western Massachusetts
- Occupation
- Electrician
Maybe depending on the generator (portable or permanent) and capacity the ac shouldn't have been running when the generator was on
mtnelect
HVAC & Electrical Contractor
- Location
- Southern California
- Occupation
- Contractor, C10 & C20 - Semi Retired
It is pretty hard to damage a hermetic, they are manufactured to a very high standard, similar to an aircraft engine. Also, they are cooled by the refringent. You would start to be suspicious if they are older than 15 years.
Shaneyj
Senior Member
- Location
- Katy, Texas
- Occupation
- Project Engineer
How “nicked” was it?
If enough to cause a significant voltage drop under load, that could be a viable cause of compressor failure.
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If enough to cause a significant voltage drop under load, that could be a viable cause of compressor failure.
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- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
We don't know it the nicked wire was feeding the AC motor, remember they a!so said the pool was affected.
Shaneyj
Senior Member
- Location
- Katy, Texas
- Occupation
- Project Engineer
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
A 'nicked' service wire is not going to cause VD.
Shaneyj
Senior Member
- Location
- Katy, Texas
- Occupation
- Project Engineer
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
My question is how does he (anyone) know the wire is nicked without digging it up?
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
We don't Know if it's buried.
AC\DC
Senior Member
- Location
- Florence,Oregon,Lane
- Occupation
- EC
If it was not buried than were does stray voltage come into play? Not leaking in air lol
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