ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
UL 508A SPACING
by ale348 - 03/29/24 01:09 AM
Increasing demand factors in residential
by tortuga - 03/28/24 05:57 PM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (ale348), 302 guests, and 14 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
#170916 11/14/07 11:09 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 17
E
etech Offline OP
Member
14 pole lights draw 14 amps at 480v single phase.
Clamp on meter reads 14 amps on one leg, 12 amps on the other leg. The other group of 12 pole lights draw 12 amps on both legs. Am I wrong to think that both legs should read the same. All comments are welcome
Thanks.

etech #170923 11/15/07 03:01 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,723
Likes: 1
Broom Pusher and
Member
Good question!

Is the CT of the Ammeter too close to the Ballast's Core, resulting in an incorrect reading?

Additionally, could the Branch Circuitry be Multiwire with a common Grounded Conductor?

Additionally, could the unbalanced fixture's ballast be leaking some current to the equipment grounding conductor? (like a grounded segment at the Reactor Coil, or an uncapped AutoTransformer Multivoltage Tap lead connecting to grounded metal equipment)

Maybe someone has tapped into that 14 amp line, and made an L-G connection somewhere - causing the unusual imbalance.

Scott


Scott " 35 " Thompson
Just Say NO To Green Eggs And Ham!
Scott35 #170930 11/15/07 11:57 AM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 482
Z
Member
Yes, ballasted loads do strange things when hooked up to meters (take a look at a spectrum analyser and a sine wave graph on a multi ballasted circuit some time - ugly business). Double check your readings, then ask yourself a few questions...

Is there a problem with the lighting performance? (i.e. a slow starting ballast, cycling or super bright lamp, etc.)

Which reading (12A or 14A) matches the expected draw of the lighting?

If you take a few fixtures off the circuit, do the legs level out?

My guess is that you'll find one or more of the fixtures to be your culprit(s). Once narrowed down, a ballast change out (or two) may be in order. Either that, or the wiring to/from a particular fixture is the answer.

Good Luck!


Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5