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In Reply to: RE: Powerline surges and sags, HELP posted by Batman on June 07, 2010 at 22:20:07
I hope you understood my post below. I tried to keep it short and simple as possible.
If indeed there is a problem with the service neutral connection/s integrity you will not only damage electronic devices from over voltage you will damage 120V motor appliances/equipment from under voltage. Like the refrigerator, Dishwasher, Washing machine, ect. As one of those devices is put on Line the voltage will drop on that Line, leg, of the service feeder conductor. The other Line, leg, feeder conductor the voltage will rise.
I assumed from your OP you took voltage readings at the mains when experiencing the voltage problems. L1 to neut, L2 to neut.
Jim
Follow Ups:
Thank you so much, Jim, I do understand your post and appreciate your input very much.
The lineman tightened the neutral at the weather head and the voltage swings continued (but NOT until he had left :-( I was back in my breaker panel this morning and I confirmed that the main neutral connection is tight, I put an Allen wrench in the lug and could not turn it any tighter and the wire is bright and shiny cause it was new in November when the service entrance was installed. I tried to tighten every neutral branch connection and all of them are tight too.
As far as I can see, that leaves the neutral connection out by the transformer as the only one that hasn't been checked.
I did not take voltage readings at the mains yet, I took the ones I posted on one phase up in my office at home. I will take readings between both phases and neutral this evening. But I'm not sure what that will show me that I don't already know. Won't I just see one line go up or down while the other one does the opposite? Should I also monitor between L1 and L2 on the small chance this is a line problem? It really does act like a neutral problem but I'm really at a loss at this point.
I am aware that motors don't like to be under-volted and electronics don't respond will to being over-volted, that's why I'm so concerned about this.
I think I need to call the powerco back in and then call the electrician who installed the panel and service entrance. In the meantime, I've turned off all my stereo equipment except my squeezebox and its music server. I probably should turn off the A/C too until I get this resolved.
Thanks again for your comprehensive help.
Bill
Bill's Audio Cave
I will take readings between both phases and neutral this evening. But I'm not sure what that will show me that I don't already know.
It will confirm 100% there is a problem with the service neutral conductor.
When you first take the readings do so without any appliance loads energized if possible. Just a few incandescent light bulbs turned on around the house...
Then take the readings with just one appliance energized like say the washing machine or better yet a hair dryer on max heat. Good chance you have a 120V recept close to the electrical panel location. If the neutral is the problem the Line with the circuit that feeds the hair dryer the voltage will be low, (well below the 121V you normally have), and the other Line the voltage will be high well above the normal 121V you were getting on both hot Lines to the neutral.
....and the wire is bright and shiny cause it was new in November when the service entrance was installed.
Ahhh you went with copper, great choice.....
200 amp service.... Bet the power company did not upgrade their triplex to your house.
As for your other questions, Al answered them.
The diagnosis from jea48 is the most likely explanation. The way to confirm this is to observe that the input voltage (240 volts) does not change when you see a surge or sag on one of the branch circuits.
If your air conditioner runs from the 240 volt mains, it would not see voltage variation from such a problem. However, if it runs from a branch circuit, it might suffer from under- or over-voltage. The blower in your furnace is likely operated from a branch circuit and should give audible symptoms of distress from the fluctuations.
They don't seem to respond but then the sags last only a second or two and the intensity of the lights is a more striking indicator. Yes the A/C runs on the 240V main so it won't respond to this if it's a neutral issue, thanks for reminding me of that.
Interestingly the power is most variable between 11PM and about midnight which leads me to believe that it could be a loading issue on the grid in my neighborhood. I'm going to put my Fluke on the mains tonight in recording mode and see what kind of range of voltage I'm getting across the mains.
I'll have an ac voltmeter in the wall outlet next to the breaker panel. If I see a surge/sag and the mains don't change, I've found my culprit. Again the only neutral that hasn't been checked is the one at the pole.
Bill's Audio Cave
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