voltage problem at panel

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drbond24 said:
I choose to believe that you're wrong and I'm right. :D

I reject your rejection of my reality and re-substitute my own.
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No, this wouldn't work, because it would have to be both a break and a fault. If you didn't have the break (open circuit) then shorting the two phase conductors would make pretty lights happen somewhere upstream. :D
 
Rick Christopherson said:
With 120 volt loads present, a small amount of current will flow through the 240 volt loads onto the dead leg, and then through the 120 volt loads to the neutral. This current would be fairly low due to the resistance of the loads, but it does constitute a parallel path from the live-leg to neutral (via the dead leg).
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Ok. This makes sense.

Rick Christopherson said:
No, this wouldn't work, because it would have to be both a break and a fault. If you didn't have the break (open circuit) then shorting the two phase conductors would make pretty lights happen somewhere upstream.
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And this makes sense. I'm doing better now.

My problem was that if the phase is open, why is there 108 V on it? If I understand what you're saying correctly, it is the same voltage that is on the good phase minus the voltage drop across whatever 240 V equipment is wired up......right?

I'm having a really slow mental day today. Not just here but everwhere. I'm practically drooling on the paperwork sitting in front of me right now. :) I think I'll go get a caffeine IV now.

I guess I have to reject my own rejection of mivey's rejection of my reality and go back to the original substitution. I hope I don't need to do that much more. It's getting complicated. :D:rolleyes:
 
drbond24 said:
Ok. This makes sense.



And this makes sense. I'm doing better now.

My problem was that if the phase is open, why is there 108 V on it? If I understand what you're saying correctly, it is the same voltage that is on the good phase minus the voltage drop across whatever 240 V equipment is wired up......right?

I'm having a really slow mental day today. Not just here but everwhere. I'm practically drooling on the paperwork sitting in front of me right now. :) I think I'll go get a caffeine IV now.

I guess I have to reject my own rejection of mivey's rejection of my reality and go back to the original substitution. I hope I don't need to do that much more. It's getting complicated. :D:rolleyes:
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:D You're in trouble now. In keeping with secret engineering protocol, you must now find a way to make what you said not appear wrong, but just not as right as it could have been.:D
 
mivey said:
:D You're in trouble now. In keeping with secret engineering protocol, you must now find a way to make what you said not appear wrong, but just not as right as it could have been.:D
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That's easy. It would just be a short through the gopher's body that had just finished chewing through the service. :D
 
OP Update

OP Update

As the original poster I can give you an update. The POCO checked the voltage at the meter bank and found no problem. There must be a problem with the underground service conductors.
The meter is about 75' from the rear of the condo/townhouse. The service lateral runs under a brick patio, fence and down a narrow walkway with flag stone steps and landscaping. This job will be 90% digging and 10% electrical.
Since there is no disconnect at the panel and the condo has a split bus panel with no main breaker, the AHJ requires a disconect installed on the back of the house. I figure this must be a $3,000 job but I had to walk away from it for lack of man power/time.
 
Why didn't you rent a locator and go find and fix with a splice kit, then install the disconnect and add I mean work the 10 % :)
 
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I would agree that it would have to be an open hot and you are reading the return voltage via the grounded conductor on the open phase. I would think if it were a phase to phase short it would have actuated the OCD.

LeeB
 
mivey said:
:D You're in trouble now. In keeping with secret engineering protocol, you must now find a way to make what you said not appear wrong, but just not as right as it could have been.:D
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I don't understand your comment. What is this word 'wrong' that you used? I've never heard it used to describe me before. It must be a dirty word. :D:D
 
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