I know the answer to this question. I just want to see how many of you "electricians" get this right. I will vote best answer to the one that gets it right, so keep checking back.
Power is out to a house:
The electric company has already checked meter and says it is ok.
You check voltage at meter and get 120 from each hot leg to neutral and 240 between hot legs. You get the same reading inside at the main breaker with all other breakers off. You turn on single pole breakers on one at a time. Every other breaker you turn on has no affect on voltage. But the other breakers when turned on takes the voltage to 0 on that leg and puts 240 volts to the other leg. Also no 240 volt appliances work in the house. Where is the problem exactly, be specific.
2006-09-04 06:30:32 · 14 answers · asked by m_d_mack 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
So far everyone is wrong. A couple of you were close but not right. And to who ever said there is no 240 volt appliances. . . I never said there were no 2 pole breakers in the panel. I don't know why you think there is not any 240 volt appliances in the house and why that would be against code. And by the way you are wrong.
2006-09-04 12:00:02 · update #1
You have an open neutral, a break in your ground wire for you laymen.
2006-09-04 06:42:38 · answer #1 · answered by Thomas S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To begin with there are no 240v appliances in the house because there are only single pole breakers in the panel (unless they've been installed against code).
The only way this can happen is if the neutral is ungrounded (between the panel & meter, not between the meter & the street).
One of the devices, on A-phase has its neutral connected to a poor ground (but with some resistance), enough to give you a 120v reading to neutral @ the panel. When a B-phase circuit is turned on the current is carried through the B-phase neutral @ the panel and out the A-phase neutral, giving you 240v on A-phase circuits.
2006-09-04 16:25:21 · answer #2 · answered by Brendan R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My best theory, There is a break in one hot leg coming in, with no load you are reading voltage (ghost voltage) , when you turn on a breaker on that leg you have no current flow , the neutral of that circut to neutral in box would be felt on that leg and read 0 volts to neutral in the box, (ie the same point) the other leg I believe would show 240 to neutral because it is reading to the ghost voltage induced on the neutral. This I believe would explain things and the lack of 240 volts to power appliances. Without the neutral of the load on one leg, I believe you can read the induced voltage to the neutral in the panel as a difference of potential between two different points.
2006-09-05 15:28:30 · answer #3 · answered by Ed W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have to ask, what is the purpose of this question?
I don't think there is enough information given. Just to clarify: when any single pole breaker on one phase is turned on, nothing happens, and when any single pole breaker on the other phase is turned on, the voltage readings change to 0 on that phase to neutral and 240 on the other phase to neutral. Now, what happens when a double pole breaker is turned on? Are these single pole breakers only turned on one at a time, meaning the odd voltage happens even if all other breakers are off?
2006-09-05 11:17:37 · answer #4 · answered by An electrical engineer 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have the wrong type of breaker installed ... This sounds like something more suited for industry ... But should not fit the buss platform in a household breaker cabinet ... Huh ... get back to me with the answer , I'm not an electrician , but I've been zapped a few times ..
2006-09-04 13:43:22 · answer #5 · answered by Bobbo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you have a short between the two legs inside the box. I'm interested in the answer because we had a similar problem in a house i was working on and I had to leave before the problem was resolved. I'm a better carpenter.
2006-09-05 00:32:25 · answer #6 · answered by jdris52@flash.net 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to install an AC to DC converter. Either that or remove the meter and bypass it by shorting it together.
(Did you say electricians - or electrical engineers?)
I'm just joking - good question though.
2006-09-05 01:46:22 · answer #7 · answered by stybaj 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Happened to me once installing a 220 submessible pump. Can't recall what the electrician told me to do but it was the style box being used.
LOVE THE QUESTION, THANKS.
Can't wait to hear your answers
2006-09-04 13:43:28 · answer #8 · answered by g_e_d1960 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there may be a short in the main wire from the box on the street to the box attached to your house.
hard to specify without tracing.
2006-09-04 13:39:21 · answer #9 · answered by bigjim2k3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your Square D box is broke
2006-09-04 13:35:33 · answer #10 · answered by Sgt Squid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋