how to determine crappy power from poco?

[99driver]

I did hook up right beside the panel. My AV stuff is only a 15ft run of 14/2 from the panel.

I had though of getting one of the big Motors on in the garage to see what it drops to. But then I wondered if that would say anything or just show that i had a large voltage drop within my service?

 

[pentavolvo]

Maybe try your same test but on the other leg

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I did hook up right beside the panel. My AV stuff is only a 15ft run of 14/2 from the panel.

I had though of getting one of the big Motors on in the garage to see what it drops to. But then I wondered if that would say anything or just show that i had a large voltage drop within my service?

Thats all it would show.

But what else are u looking for?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Unless you can show low voltage while the POCO is standing there, they won't do anything.

It took 3 trips from them to my Dad's house before he showed them that when the well pump kicked on the voltage dropped below 100V. New transformer and everyone was happy.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Unless you can show low voltage while the POCO is standing there, they won't do anything.

It took 3 trips from them to my Dad's house before he showed them that when the well pump kicked on the voltage dropped below 100V. New transformer and everyone was happy.

Maybe for some PoCos.

All it took for mine was for the troubleshooter to see my fluke meter that was set to "min" function and reading was at 100v, though the current reading was 120.

He got in his bucket and found a bad splice on the pole that was very hot.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Maybe for some PoCos.

All it took for mine was for the troubleshooter to see my fluke meter that was set to "min" function and reading was at 100v, though the current reading was 120.

Admittedly, this was probably before such meters were readily available !

 

[99driver]

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Thats all it would show.

But what else are u looking for?

I was hoping to prove that I was getting low voltage from the supply side. Not that my household usage could drag it down.

Admittedly, I don't understand enough to know if there is a difference between the two.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I was hoping to prove that I was getting low voltage from the supply side. Not that my household usage could drag it down.

Admittedly, I don't understand enough to know if there is a difference between the two.

I does not matter. The POCO needs to supply the voltage.

Look at it this way. Voltage is water pressure in your pipes. Current (amps) is what can flow through the pipe when you open the faucet. They promise you a certain amount of pressure (voltage) at a certain amount of flow (amps). As long as you are not exceeding the amount of amps, then the pressure (voltage) needs to stay within spec, no matter how big the faucet (load) is.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Admittedly, this was probably before such meters were readily available !

Huh?

This was in 2013 and I bought my fluke 87V vack in 2007. Not that old and meters with that function were around long before 2007.

I was hoping to prove that I was getting low voltage from the supply side. Not that my household usage could drag it down.

Admittedly, I don't understand enough to know if there is a difference between the two.

Well u need to test when the load on their system is higher- during summer AC use.

 

[99driver]

Thanks. I guess I'll put it on the back burner for a few months then.

 

[rharman]

30+ years ago, I worked at a HD dealer and we put in a PC for ordering. Fried 3-4 hard disks pretty quickly. Had the PoCo come out and put a charting gizmo on the line and found that we dropped WAY down a few times daily. We're talking to 80-90 volts as I recall.

Found that the circuit we were plugged into was fed from one leg of a 3-phase and when the auto body shops in the area had their air compressors kick in, we'd drop.

PoCo guy said it used to be a trick that people did and if you put enough load on one leg, you could spin your meter backwards. They'd do that overnight to reduce their bill. Probably previous owner and we just inherited it.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

30+ years ago, I worked at a HD dealer and we put in a PC for ordering. Fried 3-4 hard disks pretty quickly. Had the PoCo come out and put a charting gizmo on the line and found that we dropped WAY down a few times daily. We're talking to 80-90 volts as I recall.

Found that the circuit we were plugged into was fed from one leg of a 3-phase and when the auto body shops in the area had their air compressors kick in, we'd drop.

PoCo guy said it used to be a trick that people did and if you put enough load on one leg, you could spin your meter backwards. They'd do that overnight to reduce their bill. Probably previous owner and we just inherited it.

Im not doubting your story but i dont technically see how that would be possible.

 

[Worsedog]

Thats the tell tale sign of a bad neutral on a MWBC- either on the branch circuit or the main service drop at the pole or panel.

I realize this is a late response, but they recrimped the neutrals on the cable from the transformer to the entrance head and I went through the neutrals in the panel and I have no MWBC's. Most of my research pointed to exactly what you said, but after the checks it had to be something else.

This issue was over 10 years ago and I have had no issue since they replaced the transformer.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I realize this is a late response, but they recrimped the neutrals on the cable from the transformer to the entrance head and I went through the neutrals in the panel and I have no MWBC's. Most of my research pointed to exactly what you said, but after the checks it had to be something else.

This issue was over 10 years ago and I have had no issue since they replaced the transformer.

Yeah so the bushings and insulation was giving out on the transformer.

Good thing u caught it before catastrophe happened.

 

[rharman]

30+ years ago, I worked at a HD dealer and we put in a PC for ordering. Fried 3-4 hard disks pretty quickly. Had the PoCo come out and put a charting gizmo on the line and found that we dropped WAY down a few times daily. We're talking to 80-90 volts as I recall.

Found that the circuit we were plugged into was fed from one leg of a 3-phase and when the auto body shops in the area had their air compressors kick in, we'd drop.

PoCo guy said it used to be a trick that people did and if you put enough load on one leg, you could spin your meter backwards. They'd do that overnight to reduce their bill. Probably previous owner and we just inherited it.

Im not doubting your story but i dont technically see how that would be possible.

All I know is he said it was quite common for warehouses to run all their lights like that and, overnight, it would run the meter backwards. I am certainly not an expert but I assumed he was.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Doesnt make any sense but ok.

The only way i know how to steal power through a meter is via the grounded leg on a corner grounded delta. But those are a rare breed these days.

 

[Keel]

Can't help you.. but We had a power issue with flicker, and if you used a tool with a motor speed control, like a kitchen mixer the speed would go up and down between flickers..
The power company sent out a tech. and did some line test and meter test/ and such and then said no problems... found.. We shook hands and he turned to leave and the transformer across the street went BOOOM..
I said to him, no problems hu..
Man when they go they go..