Just arrived at my summer place on Cape Cod after 10 hours on the road to discover that ~half the lights work and the other half seem like they’ve been shut to 1/3 on a dimmer.
Turning on the refrigerator shuts down some of the quasi working lights. The lights in the fridge very dim.
Turning ON the HWT seems to enable power to some of the lights – but very dim. Turning it off turns the lights off. That one was a little counter-intuitive.
I have removed the panel cover and all three of the feeds seem to be tightly connected.
for the record: 1985 house, 100 AMP service, copper wires everywhere, no prior issue at all.
Thank goodness one of the outlets that works is connected to the router!
Any ideas guys: it’s c~o~l~d in here!
Thanks,
Gavin
Gavin Pitchford
“Sail fast – live slow” (build even slower)
Replies
Probably a bad connection out at the utility transformer. I'd call the power company, hopefully they will agree to come out (it seems like the first time you call they usually deny any problems at their end.)
You probably have 240V service and you've lost half of it.
First, unplug any sensitive electronics right away. Then go to your breaker panel and/or service disconnect and turn off/on the "main" breakers. If you still have the problem, inspect the outside wiring for damage.
If you have some sort of a voltmeter or tester, you could CAREFULLY check that to see if there is power on both "sides" of the 240V line where it enters the breaker panel. Do this test with all 240V loads (stove, water heater, electric heat, etc) turned off. If one side appears "dead" then the problem is in the meter socket or the drop from the pole.
Probably time to call the power company.
I called thje power company first - they have just arrived and with a spotlight have identified a spot where my wires have wrapped around another set, which put them into a new position, and a tree limb has frayed through one of mine. They're out there now. Tell me my life will resume in 30 minutes.Thanks for the ideas guys - and I know what you mean about the denial: last time we reported an issue it took them 24 hours to get to it. There were 4 of us completely down with a broken connection somewhere, but no one else had been in their homes for a while. Arrived on the Wednesday night before - Was a very cold Thanksgiving!
Gavin Pitchford
"Sail fast - live slow" (build even slower)
Power up - had unplugged everything important before I left and what was plugged in seems fine. Happy ending. Thanks for the support.Gavin Pitchford
"Sail fast - live slow" (build even slower)
Glad they were able to fix it so quickly, and didn't give you any gruff about it not being their problem.
A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter
Just arrived at my summer place on Cape Cod
If it's summer on Cape Cod, please send a map.
I'm freezing my butt off here in New Mex.
Joe H
Maybe he's Australian, and it's HIS summer :D
Maybe he's Australian, and it's HIS summer :D
If so, everything is 220/240V so what would still work?
Lights maybe?
Joe H
Gosh - so hot here I may need to head to the beach for a swim. Thank God they fixed the power so I can turn on the AC.
Gavin Pitchford
"Sail fast - live slow" (build even slower)