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
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 821
S
Member
I always look around my neighborhood at some of the electrical work that beens done over the years, but today took the cake. Today on my block I noticed a house that had its ground wire broken up by the where the feeders are tied in. I told the homeowner what I saw, and what it meant, and to call the POCO immediately to have them come fix it. Its an older lady who owns the house and I'm not sure if she's going to even bother calling them up. If its not fixed by tomorrow afternoon, should I assume she did not call and call the POCO myself to have them fix the problem? What would you do?

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 794
Likes: 3
W
Member
She may think that it will cost money to have the POCO fix it, and if she doesn't see anything strange about her lights, she won't call them. She probably has a good ground.

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,749
Member
Report it to the Building Department, Utility Company, and the Fire Department.

Please send a picture of it before and after, close up.


Joe Tedesco, NEC Consultant
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 650
W
Member
Very likely there is a pretty solid neutral connection via metallic water piping. Not good when the plumber needs to fix something...

-Jon

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,438
Member
I've come across similar things and just call the Poco myself (broken lines or crossarms, glowing splices, etc)... The poco appreciates it since it saves them getting a claim for things getting roasted (sometimes) from the unbalanced voltage that usually coincides. Not to mention the shock hazards involved.

-Randy

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 821
S
Member
Hey thanks for all of the replies. I got a home a little after sundown tonight and didnt have a chance to see if the POCO came out to make repairs or not. If they didn't, I'l be making the call myself tomorrow.

Joe, I don't have a digital camera capable of taking a close-up. Sorry. If I did I'd have mailed you a ton of stuff by now. I really appreciate the photo forums you have here on the site. Keep up the great work!

--Ron

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 821
S
Member
Proud to report that PSE&G came out yesterday and made the necessary repairs. The lady is also pleased that her lighting is working "right" again. I have a ceiling fan to install there tomorrow so I am glad they took care of this problem before I started working there so I wouldn't be blamed for anything.

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
P
Member
I've found the local PoCo here in England pretty good on things like this.

A couple of times recently I've reported a bad neutral and the response has been "We'll get somebody out today." And they did!


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