Half the house with only 6 volts

[Fordman7795]

My sister in law called me and said half her house lights and appliances weren’t working. She wasn’t exaggerating. It’s very strange, basement lights, kitchen outlets and upstairs bathroom lights aren’t working. I tested 6 volts on 6-8 circuits. The electric range is showing the time and when you turn the knob to turn it on the microwave and ceiling lights will turn on. House is only 2 years old. What should I look at first?

 

[Shiftless]

Is the builder warrantee still in effect?
I would get an electrician on that problem ASAP

 

[pattenp]

Check for a voltage difference at the panel between the two legs to neutral. Most likely the neutral has failed and you need to call an electrician asap.

 

[Cypherian]

I recently had this happen and it was a leg on the power lines had been lost . Same deal some stuff worked some did not some (lights ) had power but were dim. Either the incoming power or the panel has an issue call the power company first they may know a leg is down if they say no an electrician is the next call. If they know any neighbors they can call them or go ask if they are having the same issue that would answer it quicker than calling the power company .


Cypher

 

[dogdog]

I have that happened at my house before, 2 times actually. It end up with the transformer blow on one of the legs. The other time, the cable got loose on the drop before the meter. Both times power company have to fix that.

Check voltage between the two incoming legs , then check them between neutral. you should get 240-ish and 120vac 120vac like mentioned above . Nothing you can do on your end if power is out before the meter. that 6v-ish might be just induced voltage from parallel lines or ground.

 

[Fordman7795]

I have that happened at my house before, 2 times actually. It end up with the transformer blow on one of the legs. The other time, the cable got loose on the drop before the meter. Both times power company have to fix that.

Check voltage between the two incoming legs , then check them between neutral. you should get 240-ish and 120vac 120vac like mentioned above . Nothing you can do on your end if power is out before the meter. that 6v-ish might be just induced voltage from parallel lines or ground.

I’m getting 140v at the main

 

[Shiftless]

140 between the 2 incoming hot legs?

 

[Denwood]

If some circuits work, ya, you've likely lost a leg on the 240V into the house. Been there and done that. Tree branch/vs the mast into the house...Hydro utility had to fix it.

The stove 120V components (clock, fan etc) will likely work, but the oven will not. If it's an older stove, you're likely back feeding the other leg (stove to the panel) when you turn it on. If the microwave and ceiling lights are turning on (with the oven on), I'd assume the light switch is in the on position, yes?

 

[Fordman7795]

140 between the 2 incoming hot legs?

Yes

 

[Denwood]

..and hope the leg is not having a problem on a buried service to the house as she is likely on the hook to sort that one out. One of my buds had that issue and it was expensive to fix :-(

 

[wrenchguy]

You lost 1 of your 120 legs, Its happened to me twice with recent underground service line work done at the street.

 

[Fordman7795]

You lost 1 of your 120 legs, Its happened to me twice with recent underground service line work done at the street.

She’s in an area where a lot of new houses are being built

 

[wrenchguy]

underground splices fail every day in this country.

 

[PelicanPines]

Sounds like a job for the electric company. You can get a sparky to come verify the problem is on the telephone pole/street junction.

 

[pattenp]

Power company should cover any repairs to the service feed up to the meter.

 

[sparky 1971]

She's lost a leg. It could be a bad main or on the POCO side.

Edit: I just looked at more post's. If the 140 volts being measured is on the lugs of the main, and it probably is, it's the POCO. It could be in the meter setting, but that's not very likely. Just call the power company.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Lost a leg or a neutral.

Call PoCo ASAP

 

[dogdog]

I’m getting 140v at the main

140 between the 2 incoming hot legs?

Yes

She’s in an area where a lot of new houses are being built

You will needed to note the voltage between two hots L1 L2.. and the L1 and neutral, L2 and Neutral.
L1 is just a name for one of the Leg number one, Leg number 2 of the hot legs arbitrary. Make sure you do this test at the main fuse box.

Then call the power company.... I have had the poco Level 1 service tech being an *** and told me to go get an electrician because I don't know what I am talking about.... well maybe it was my voice sound not so confident not sure... Get all those data points not just 140V... before you call.

you should be measuring something like this.

between

L1 and L2 = Vac ?

L1 and Neutral = Vac
L2 and neutral = Vac

***** Of cause if you are not comfortable, always get an licensed electrician.

Of cause there will be one of the **** from poco to require you to get an Registered licensed electrician with them before they can open any service ticket...

dependents where you are, I have dealt with those type before as well...

 

[nadogail]

This thread reminds me of the blind men trying to describe an elephant. None of them have the big picture.

 

[pattenp]

This thread reminds me of the blind men trying to describe an elephant. None of them have the big picture.

Well why don't you tell us blind men what the big picture is?

 

[mike93lx]

You will needed to note the voltage between two hots L1 L2.. and the L1 and neutral, L2 and Neutral.
L1 is just a name for one of the Leg number one, Leg number 2 of the hot legs arbitrary. Make sure you do this test at the main fuse box.

Then call the power company.... I have had the poco Level 1 service tech being an *** and told me to go get an electrician because I don't know what I am talking about.... well maybe it was my voice sound not so confident not sure... Get all those data points not just 140V... before you call.

you should be measuring something like this.

between

L1 and L2 = Vac ?

L1 and Neutral = Vac
L2 and neutral = Vac

***** Of cause if you are not comfortable, always get an licensed electrician.

Of cause there will be one of the **** from poco to require you to get an Registered licensed electrician with them before they can open any service ticket...

dependents where you are, I have dealt with those type before as well...

Not only will the person at the call center not understand any of that, they won't care.

Just call

 

[dogdog]

Not only will the person at the call center not understand any of that, they won't care.

Just call

I am not disagreeing about calling them but not really that the person on the other end don’t understand. I mentioned the first time it happened the problem is with transformer legs. Before GIS managed smart meter and transformers. That person might or might not know but definitely an ***. The second time the one I spoke to knows and immediately sends out a service truck with lift. Fixed the problem in 2 hours. So….. it dependents.

I am not sure about op’s area, mine it is all smart meter based, all GIS and all managed, mostly. They have shut off my meters (remotely) when the tenant left, before I was ably to transfer it over to my name. They can go by specific meters now a days.

 

[Fordman7795]

POCO just showed up with 5 trucks

 

[dogdog]

Run!!!! Five trucks really?

 

[engineer2]

I lost a leg and after some convincing ComEd sent a contractor with 3 trucks and an excavator.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

They sent the calvary!!

 

[Fordman7795]

I lost a leg and after some convincing ComEd sent a contractor with 3 trucks and an excavator.

Pretty much the same. They said they found it 4’ down….in the neighbors yard

 

[William Payne]

Glad you got that sorted, there was really nothing that needed to be said beyond call the power people. That is a definite ASAP fix yesterday POCO problem.

 

[Showkey]

Pretty much the same. They said they found it 4’ down….in the neighbors yard

Right next to a brand new fence post ?????

 

[BigGarage]

They sent the calvary!!

I hope not

 

[wrenchguy]

Glad you got that sorted, there was really nothing that needed to be said beyond call the power people. That is a definite ASAP fix yesterday POCO problem.

If your confident enough get the refrigerator on a unaffected circuit, they don't like trying to start on low voltage, likely give you problems a few weeks later. Been there done that.

 

[William Payne]

If your confident enough get the refrigerator on a unaffected circuit, they don't like trying to start on low voltage, likely give you problems a few weeks later. Been there done that.

I’m guessing you quoted the wrong person there. Not my thread.