Trouble after the Storm...please help!
#1
09-28-04, 02:28 PM
Trouble after the Storm...please help!
HI all,
I live in central Florida, and the power company down here has restored power to my whole area but I have a huge problem.
After hurricane Jeanne, when FPL restored power, I can't get my A/C, dryer, Stove, and 3 rooms in my house to come on!!!
One room has power, lights, and bathroom fan. OK, and the kitchen has power, the frigde works and the microwave, and the store clock comes on.
Now for the weird part, when ever I try to start the A/C, or the stove the lights, EVEN THE ONES THAT DONT WORK, flicker and the A/C makes a funny sounds, clicking is the only way to describe it.
Someone at owrk said that I had a ground wire loose, but I'm not sure.
I have reset all the breakers liek a million times. Is Florida power and light sending enough power to me? Or is my house screwed up?
I live in central Florida, and the power company down here has restored power to my whole area but I have a huge problem.
After hurricane Jeanne, when FPL restored power, I can't get my A/C, dryer, Stove, and 3 rooms in my house to come on!!!
One room has power, lights, and bathroom fan. OK, and the kitchen has power, the frigde works and the microwave, and the store clock comes on.
Now for the weird part, when ever I try to start the A/C, or the stove the lights, EVEN THE ONES THAT DONT WORK, flicker and the A/C makes a funny sounds, clicking is the only way to describe it.
Someone at owrk said that I had a ground wire loose, but I'm not sure.
I have reset all the breakers liek a million times. Is Florida power and light sending enough power to me? Or is my house screwed up?
#2
09-28-04, 02:31 PM
You have a rpoblem with half of your incoming power. Turn off your main circuit breaker NOW and call the power company immediately. Do these two steps before anything else.
You have a serious problem and you risk ruining your appliances or burning your house down.
You have a serious problem and you risk ruining your appliances or burning your house down.
#4
09-28-04, 02:43 PM
You didn't listen to what I said.
Turn off your main breaker and do not use any electricity. None. Nothing. Turn off your main breaker. You are risking a fire. Turn off your main breaker.
You will have to do without electricity until the power company comes out.
Turn off your main breaker.
Half your incoming service is missing. The wire may be broken, it may be loose, or the problem could be in your house.
This is not something to ignore. Turn off your main breaker NOW.
Turn off your main breaker and do not use any electricity. None. Nothing. Turn off your main breaker. You are risking a fire. Turn off your main breaker.
You will have to do without electricity until the power company comes out.
Turn off your main breaker.
Half your incoming service is missing. The wire may be broken, it may be loose, or the problem could be in your house.
This is not something to ignore. Turn off your main breaker NOW.
#5
09-29-04, 08:54 AM
nissmo; would you be willing to test-for-voltage at the terminals of the circuit-breakers inside the Servive-panel?.
We all have empathy for you in your difficult situation and we presume the ultilty co. is inundated with problems.
We all have empathy for you in your difficult situation and we presume the ultilty co. is inundated with problems.
#6
09-29-04, 11:29 AM
Member
You don't need to turn off your main. But definitely turn off all the double-pole breakers in your panel. This will at least leave you with some power until the power company comes.
#8
09-29-04, 02:07 PM
"How can I tell if this is my problem---"----- You need to test for voltage at the circuit-breaker terminals inside the Service-panel.
Please inform us if you are willing/able to conduct such a test.
Please inform us if you are willing/able to conduct such a test.
#10
09-29-04, 04:18 PM
My concern here, and my reason for suggesting that the main breaker be turned off is because we have no idea where the problem is, or exactly what the problem is.
From the sounds of things, one of the 120 volt wires is open. If the neutral and ground are still attached and there are no problems with them, then there is no problem using the 120 volt circuits that are still powered. However, if the homeowner accidently turns on a 240 volt appliance, then there will be trouble.
My other concern is that there could also be trouble with either the neutral connection or with the other hot wire. Something disconnected one hot wire.
what if it also loosened the neutral or the other hot wire? A loose connection can easily overheat and cause a fire.
My advice, for safety reasons, is to turn everything off until the problem is found and corrected.
From the sounds of things, one of the 120 volt wires is open. If the neutral and ground are still attached and there are no problems with them, then there is no problem using the 120 volt circuits that are still powered. However, if the homeowner accidently turns on a 240 volt appliance, then there will be trouble.
My other concern is that there could also be trouble with either the neutral connection or with the other hot wire. Something disconnected one hot wire.
what if it also loosened the neutral or the other hot wire? A loose connection can easily overheat and cause a fire.
My advice, for safety reasons, is to turn everything off until the problem is found and corrected.
#11
09-29-04, 08:09 PM
yeah I would be willing to do a test, all I have is my digital mulitmeter. I have all the double throws off.
Today, I got some more power back the rest of the house now has power some of the lights are not 100% bright, but still not enough juice to run the a/c.
How should I test the lines coming in?
Today, I got some more power back the rest of the house now has power some of the lights are not 100% bright, but still not enough juice to run the a/c.
How should I test the lines coming in?
