This morning parts of home electrics were not working. Total novice but know how to check voltage at breaker box. I have top leg at 119 to 122, bottom leg fluctuates from 30ish to about 95 or so. No burn or heat markings or temps and voltage reads the same on both sides of each two main breakers. Oddly also wireless meter which is sealed but usually shows numbers is showing nothing? I checked each individual breaker and every other one on each side shows lower voltage. No reset switches in home have clicked off. Thinking it could be a bad connect outside either at site or at service line which is above ground at street and goes underground the 300 or so feet to meter on home. Thanks for any advice or direction. I tried calling service provider but the office is closed til tomorrow morning.
Lower voltage on one leg
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They must have an emergency number... you need to get that fixed pretty quick, it may damage some of your equipment. Any motor connected to that leg could get harmed. Refrigerator hopefully is on the good leg??
In the meantime, enjoy the free electricity since the meter is down. You won't get that chance very often!
In the meantime, enjoy the free electricity since the meter is down. You won't get that chance very often!
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You may have lost one leg completely. In that case the lower voltage on
the non-working leg is getting there via a double pole breaker and 240V
load from the live leg.
Might be able to see open connection at pole.
the non-working leg is getting there via a double pole breaker and 240V
load from the live leg.
Might be able to see open connection at pole.
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Do you have 240v between the 2 hot legs?
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""I tried calling service provider but the office is closed til tomorrow morning.""
I hope you were able to notify the power provider. If you don't have their emergency number, call 911, they have it. That power line may be lying down on the ground somewhere and someone may get electrocuted. This is an emergency and the power company will be the first to agree with that. They have lineman on call for times like this. Call them!
I hope you were able to notify the power provider. If you don't have their emergency number, call 911, they have it. That power line may be lying down on the ground somewhere and someone may get electrocuted. This is an emergency and the power company will be the first to agree with that. They have lineman on call for times like this. Call them!
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As noted by others, sounds like you have 1 leg out and are backfeeding thru a 2 pole device somewhere.
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I am sure you have contacted the office by now, but fyi you need to call the service distribution company not the company you pay your bill to. This is the company who owns the wires in the street.
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That's why I suggested 911. Perhaps better to just call the local police dept. since they deal with getting downed power lines plenty of times and will have that number readily available.
I don't know where the OP is located but in my area being without electricity in January is definitely an emergency!
I don't know where the OP is located but in my area being without electricity in January is definitely an emergency!
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Good electrical advice.....but too alarmist....imo.
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