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Scenario-
House and garage approx. 50 years old. 2 prong outlets throughout house/garage. #8 w/grd. conductors & 40 A. DP Brk. on feeder to garage.(Service Panel has been changed at some point to 150 A. with Cir. Brks.Has main) garage has screw in fuse box.
Last year a severe T-storm/lightning left a circuit feeding some outlets non functioning in the garage.Never could trace it out why as everything looked fine in the fuse box, including fuses.
Now, recently,not long after another storm but lightning not nearly as close, lights in the garage slowly dimmed. Span of time from start of dimming to complete darkness and loss of power to the entire garage---approx. 4-5 seconds. All fuses and Cir. Brk check out fine with meter.
Ideas?????
My thoughts***somewhere in the feeder, the ground has been compremised. Since this is an older system, the ground has acted as a neutral. Somehwere, the ground acting as a neutral for the 110 volt devices, has been arcing and for whatever reason, took about 4 seconds to completely seperate, thereby causing an open ground situation. Without a return (neutral)no power. A meter was used from the ungrouded legs to the ground lug and there was no reading. But I say if the ground was compremised you wouldn't get a reading but still may have 110 on each leg.
This is my Dad's house and I'm 1000 miles away. I'm going up next week to troubleshoot.
Comments??
Thanks All
House and garage approx. 50 years old. 2 prong outlets throughout house/garage. #8 w/grd. conductors & 40 A. DP Brk. on feeder to garage.(Service Panel has been changed at some point to 150 A. with Cir. Brks.Has main) garage has screw in fuse box.
Last year a severe T-storm/lightning left a circuit feeding some outlets non functioning in the garage.Never could trace it out why as everything looked fine in the fuse box, including fuses.
Now, recently,not long after another storm but lightning not nearly as close, lights in the garage slowly dimmed. Span of time from start of dimming to complete darkness and loss of power to the entire garage---approx. 4-5 seconds. All fuses and Cir. Brk check out fine with meter.
Ideas?????
My thoughts***somewhere in the feeder, the ground has been compremised. Since this is an older system, the ground has acted as a neutral. Somehwere, the ground acting as a neutral for the 110 volt devices, has been arcing and for whatever reason, took about 4 seconds to completely seperate, thereby causing an open ground situation. Without a return (neutral)no power. A meter was used from the ungrouded legs to the ground lug and there was no reading. But I say if the ground was compremised you wouldn't get a reading but still may have 110 on each leg.
This is my Dad's house and I'm 1000 miles away. I'm going up next week to troubleshoot.
Comments??
Thanks All
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