Desperately need some electrician help..

[dybert]

Is there anyone around that could maybe chat with me for a few minutes about a problem I'm having?

 

[Avenger]

Plenty of electrical savvy folks about.

 

[Iron_Lion]

POst your ? here

 

[dybert]

It's not that cut and dry, but... My main breaker is blowing, and I know I'm bot overloading it... I need ideas on why might cause that.

 

[Avenger]

when is it tripping?

how often?


what all are you running?


do you have an electrical multimeter to test voltage and current(amps)?

 

[dybert]

Last time it took 45 mins... I checked amperage and it's about 55 total for the whole house on the 2 input leads

 

[Avenger]

55 amps on each leg?

so each leg is evenly loaded?


what is the breaker rated to trip at?

did you check voltage?

 

[dybert]

Nope, 28 on one, 25 on the other...

238v

100a breaker

 

[Avenger]

Thats the total amperage on the entire panel? or just one circuit?

 

[Avenger]

No other circuit breakers tripping. might be a weak main breaker.

any visual signs of overheating on the main breaker or buss bars?

 

[dybert]

On the total... I do think the main is weak, is it required to have the power company do a disconnect to replace the main?

 

[One Love 731]

check your ground, sounds like ya have a short. sometimes your ground gets loose and shorts to your live. They sell those testers at home depot that tell ya which outlet is the problem then change out the outlet and the breaker, make sure everything is grounded. What did ya add to the grow when the problem started? Im not an electrician by trade but am very construction and grow savvy. Karma, One Love

 

[Avenger]

On the total... I do think the main is weak, is it required to have the power company do a disconnect to replace the main?

Yes.



unless you are spunky and want to pull the meter yourself.

 

[MeanBean]

While were on the subject, if I run 200ft of 30 amp wire to a post would it be enough to run the glow plugs in 4 diesel trucks?

 

[Danks2005]

If you are comfortable pulling the meter, then changing the main breaker is easy. Don't worry about cutting their tab, they don't mind, I've pulled mine several times.

 

[Avenger]

The more I ponder it the more i think it is more likely an intermitent short circuit.


you can turn off individual breakers one at a time nd see if the problem stops to isolate the problem circuit.

 

[BirdManFlyHigh]

Call a Electrician dont risk it bro

 

[One Love 731]

check it with your tongue to see if its live

 

[dybert]

The more I ponder it the more i think it is more likely an intermitent short circuit.


you can turn off individual breakers one at a time nd see if the problem stops to isolate the problem circuit.

one pole of the main does have some signs
of sparking... And every so often I can hear it sort of buzz... (yes, I'm calling an electrician but it's not quite that easy, as you might guess

 

[dtfsux]

have you tried checking connections? Make sure everything is nice and tight. We had a loose connection in a panel cause a breaker to keep tripping.