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  #1  
Old 09-22-2003, 10:48 AM
Ron Mummert Ron Mummert is offline
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Angry Help! Any electricians (home wiring) out there?

I'm eternally grateful that Isabel only spoiled my food & little else over the 3 days of powerlessness. However - about 5 hours after juice was restored, some funky things occurred, one of which involved a fried PC modem (I think), & some other unusual circuit outages that don't seem to involve a tripped circuit breaker. I can now turn power on/off in three bedrooms by turning the A/C thermostat to "on". Is this a poltergeist at work? I "think" I'm running on degraded power, & most 220V appliances (dryer) run slow or not at all. My semi-gurus at work say power is somehow looping back through the 110V side of the A/C allowing it to control other circuits. Does this goofiness sound like the result of an external "brownout", or am I about to spend valuable SVX money on a visit from Mr. Electrician, who's probably booked solid until 2004.

Thanks, Ron (always trying to get juiced).
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  #2  
Old 09-22-2003, 11:49 AM
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Re: Help! Any electricians (home wiring) out there?

Quote:
Originally posted by Ron Mummert
I'm eternally grateful that Isabel only spoiled my food & little else over the 3 days of powerlessness. However - about 5 hours after juice was restored, some funky things occurred, one of which involved a fried PC modem (I think), & some other unusual circuit outages that don't seem to involve a tripped circuit breaker. I can now turn power on/off in three bedrooms by turning the A/C thermostat to "on". Is this a poltergeist at work? I "think" I'm running on degraded power, & most 220V appliances (dryer) run slow or not at all. My semi-gurus at work say power is somehow looping back through the 110V side of the A/C allowing it to control other circuits. Does this goofiness sound like the result of an external "brownout", or am I about to spend valuable SVX money on a visit from Mr. Electrician, who's probably booked solid until 2004.

Thanks, Ron (always trying to get juiced).
Unless you water got on the wiring in your house or some wires melted and fused together, I wouldn't think its something in your house. I guess I'd look first for water in your circuit box. Did the powerlines to your house get physically disconnected?
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  #3  
Old 09-22-2003, 12:39 PM
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Ron,
I'd see if I could grap one of those "Reading, PA" crews and describe the problem to them....that, and I'd check with your neighbors to see if they're experiencing the same problems
-Bill (waiting on an electrician to install a switch-over box for an outside generator)
p.s. I'd unplug everthing in the house until you get things straightened out, just to be safe....
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  #4  
Old 09-22-2003, 12:56 PM
Ron Mummert Ron Mummert is offline
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Unhappy

Thanks - but nothing got wet, or has been disturbed in any way. As I mentioned, everything was fine from 6:00 PM when the power came on, 'til 11:45 PM when I heard a "pop" from somewhere behind the 'puter, & it tripped the breaker. I then smelled that burnt electrical smell, but I haven't looked at the computer yet - maybe tonight; but it did restart & run OK, except when the modem connected with AOL, the screen froze & I just gave up. The other crazy stuff happened while I was in bed, worrying about the first crazy stuff.
To be continued after I go home & start poking around.

Ron (Let's see....I wonder what happens if I touch these two wires together)?
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  #5  
Old 09-22-2003, 01:11 PM
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Ron,
You're describing some (not all) of the symptoms I experienced when the transformer became ungrounded at the pole. In fact, both grounds were off and blowing in the breeze. I'd call the electric company and see if the transformer has been damaged. Just a guess.

I wound up with a lot of fried stuff.
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  #6  
Old 09-22-2003, 02:36 PM
Ron Mummert Ron Mummert is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Aredubjay
Ron,
You're describing some (not all) of the symptoms I experienced when the transformer became ungrounded at the pole. In fact, both grounds were off and blowing in the breeze. I'd call the electric company and see if the transformer has been damaged. Just a guess.

I wound up with a lot of fried stuff.

OH-NO!! Fried Rice!

Imagine what number I take when there are 500,000 addresses still burning candles around here.

I know - I'm gonna' go up on that pole with a big metal hammer & fix that ground wire myself!

Thanks for the advise Randy.

Ron (SSSSSSSSSZZZZZZ).
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  #7  
Old 09-22-2003, 03:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ron Mummert


Imagine what number I take when there are 500,000 addresses still burning candles around here.

I know - I'm gonna' go up on that pole with a big metal hammer & fix that ground wire myself!

I know, I know. Sorry that I couldn't be of more help.

Actually, in order to work on the service at the pole, you'd want to use your "live line tool" to turn the service off.

(Yeah, that's a set-up)
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  #8  
Old 09-22-2003, 07:09 PM
Ron Mummert Ron Mummert is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Aredubjay


I know, I know. Sorry that I couldn't be of more help.

Actually, in order to work on the service at the pole, you'd want to use your "live line tool" to turn the service off.

(Yeah, that's a set-up)


Don't worry, Aredub, I'm wearing rubber gloves just like my doc, & look where he puts HIS hands.

Tonight I opened the back of the white box & sniffed. Nothing. No burn-outs visible. I turned it on & look what I'm doing now! This is a mystery. Still got degraded electric service, so I talked to a LIVE body at the electric company. He said they were aware of my problem, which is like me being aware that I can lose ten pounds by dieting.
Now I'm only behind 568,720 other customers.

At least I got the computer running & can hep;//..5m8ahy,mmmmmmmjjjjj????????????????//////////////.......................................
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  #9  
Old 09-23-2003, 01:45 AM
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Ron, I think you will find that Randy is correct with his diagnosis. We have neutral earth system which does not work quite as yours does.

However it would appear you may also have suffered from an over voltage condition as gear has been damaged. You should be able to claim on the supply authority unless they have some small print covering acts of god or whatever which is likely!
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Old 09-23-2003, 10:01 AM
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Ron-

Quit whining and just be happy you have any power . Mine came back on for a few hours yesterday but it was just a tease.



My new generator should be arriving in 6 to 8 weeks. Maybe the power will be back on before then...

Next time you talk to the electric company, be sure to mention the sparks coming from the power pole.
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Old 09-23-2003, 06:57 PM
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lostpower once

I lost power once when I was living in MD. For no reason too. I was a beautiful summer day. The whole area went out. My ex and I just sat on the porch taking about how much we wonted the power back on so we could could. It was almost dinner time and we couldnt eat lunch because the stove was electric. About an hour later I just started laughing my but off. My ex just gave me a confused look until she realized I was pointing behind her and not at her. There sitting behind her was our new grill that I had just put together about the week before with a full tank of fuel. We felt a little stupid.
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Old 09-23-2003, 07:37 PM
Ron Mummert Ron Mummert is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Trevor
Ron, I think you will find that Randy is correct with his diagnosis. We have neutral earth system which does not work quite as yours does.

However it would appear you may also have suffered from an over voltage condition as gear has been damaged. You should be able to claim on the supply authority unless they have some small print covering acts of god or whatever which is likely!


Thanks, Trevor; and don't worry. Hurricanes may be acts of God, but we have hoards of attorneys who'd be glad to sue the Almighty if the fees were suitable.

Ron (can't afford a public defender).
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  #13  
Old 09-23-2003, 07:43 PM
Ron Mummert Ron Mummert is offline
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Wink

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rufus
[B]Ron-

Quit whining and just be happy you have any power . Mine came back on for a few hours yesterday but it was just a tease.



My new generator should be arriving in 6 to 8 weeks. Maybe the power will be back on before then...



What good are all them cats if you can't train 'em to run in that treadmill & do their part to keep the fridge runnin' & the beer cold.

Ron (kerosene lamps for rent).
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  #14  
Old 09-24-2003, 07:37 PM
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actually ron i think you should try to keep he electrical situation just as it was after the storm. just think, you'de probably be able to have the only microwave over which could be turned on with the tv remote.
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  #15  
Old 09-25-2003, 04:26 AM
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Ron,

I only have about 14 miles of extension cords. I don't think that they will reach to your house from mine . Sorry.
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