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Started By
Message
Need Electrician Help - House With 10% Power?!?
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:39 am
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:39 am
Morning Everyone,
Since my street has power, I came back home last night - and opened the door to find a house that only has power in the den and in the bathroom.
Everything else is out - a/c, microwave, fridge, bedrooms, etc. I think the oven light was flashing, but that's it.
Breakers seem fine, and I turned them off/on, so I called Entergy to report a "partial power outage", but who knows how long they're gonna take.
Anyone ever experience this or have any idea what it could it be?
Big thanks in advance!
Since my street has power, I came back home last night - and opened the door to find a house that only has power in the den and in the bathroom.
Everything else is out - a/c, microwave, fridge, bedrooms, etc. I think the oven light was flashing, but that's it.
Breakers seem fine, and I turned them off/on, so I called Entergy to report a "partial power outage", but who knows how long they're gonna take.
Anyone ever experience this or have any idea what it could it be?
Big thanks in advance!
16
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:41 am to BrockLanders
Sounds like your house is on a bad transformer.
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:43 am to Bullfrog
quote:
Sounds like your house is on a bad transformer.
Does it make sense that the house next to me is perfectly fine?
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:43 am to BrockLanders
If I had to guess one leg of your service is not connected.
Essentially, only half (one "side") of your panel is energized.
Also, check your main panel where the service comes in, many houses have two panels.
Very likely this is a problem with the service.
Also check if your neighbors are having the same issue? Could be an issue in multiple homes depending on how the neighborhood is wired.
Hope this helps.
ETA: If you're remotely handy you can verify this with a voltmeter after taking the panel cover off. If you don't know what you are doing stay out of the panel.
Essentially, only half (one "side") of your panel is energized.
Also, check your main panel where the service comes in, many houses have two panels.
Very likely this is a problem with the service.
Also check if your neighbors are having the same issue? Could be an issue in multiple homes depending on how the neighborhood is wired.
Hope this helps.
ETA: If you're remotely handy you can verify this with a voltmeter after taking the panel cover off. If you don't know what you are doing stay out of the panel.
This post was edited on 9/6/21 at 9:46 am
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:46 am to AndyCBR
quote:
If I had to guess one leg of your service is not connected. Essentially, only half (one "side") of your panel is energized. Also, check your main panel where the service comes in, many houses have two panels. Very likely this is a problem with the service. Also check if your neighbors are having the same issue? Could be an issue in multiple homes depending on how the neighborhood is wired. Hope this helps.
My next door neighbor on the right is totally fine, and I can see that my neighbor on the left is good as well (their ac is running), it's so bizarre.
House only has one panel on the outside, and I think I will stay away from it, since I'd like to keep on living.
This post was edited on 9/6/21 at 9:48 am
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:47 am to BrockLanders
quote:
Does it make sense that the house next to me is perfectly fine?
All that tells me is the problem is specific to your house.
Underground power? Overhead? Was there damage to the weatherhead in the storm? Were the underground feeders disturbed by tree roots/tree work?
Too many questions, not enough info.
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:48 am to AndyCBR
quote:
Underground power? Overhead? Was there damage to the weatherhead in the storm? Were the underground feeders disturbed by tree roots/tree work? Too many questions, not enough info.
It's overhead power - was late last night that I found out, so totally dark and tough to see much of anything.
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:50 am to AndyCBR
quote:
ETA: If you're remotely handy you can verify this with a voltmeter after taking the panel cover off. If you don't know what you are doing stay out of the panel.
Agree with this. Also, the 2nd part of that is the most critical. For the novice, know that even with the main breaker off, you still have your main feeds coming in still energized on the other side of it.
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:51 am to BrockLanders
quote:
It's overhead power - was late last night that I found out, so totally dark and tough to see much of anything.
Very probable one of the wiring connections at your house (weatherhead) or the service pole has been disturbed by wind/debris/pulling, etc.
Power company will likely have to fix. They will get to it but unfortunately sending a crew to fix one house will likely end up low on the priority list.
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:53 am to AndyCBR
quote:
Very probable one of the wiring connections at your house (weatherhead) or the service pole has been disturbed by wind/debris/pulling, etc. Power company will likely have to fix. They will get to it but unfortunately sending a crew to fix one house will likely end up low on the priority list.
Thanks, I was afraid of that.
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:54 am to BrockLanders
I had this same issue. When my power went out I saw my transformer shooting sparks out followed by a bad smell of something burning.
When the power came back on only a certain part of the house had power, AC would constantly restart itself, etc.
My neighbor had an electrician check her breaker box (giggity) and told her she wasn't getting full power.
Called Entergy to report a bad transformer. Be sure to tell them to send someone to actually look at it closely because they had to come out twice to resolve the issue.
The first guys just looked at the transformer from the ground (transformer on a pole) and said looks great. They weren't Entergy but a company from North Carolina. 2nd group was actually some Entergy guys.
Good luck. I'd just say that someone needs to look at your transformer. If your neighbors are home ask them and have them call Entergy as well.
When the power came back on only a certain part of the house had power, AC would constantly restart itself, etc.
My neighbor had an electrician check her breaker box (giggity) and told her she wasn't getting full power.
Called Entergy to report a bad transformer. Be sure to tell them to send someone to actually look at it closely because they had to come out twice to resolve the issue.
The first guys just looked at the transformer from the ground (transformer on a pole) and said looks great. They weren't Entergy but a company from North Carolina. 2nd group was actually some Entergy guys.
Good luck. I'd just say that someone needs to look at your transformer. If your neighbors are home ask them and have them call Entergy as well.
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:57 am to BrockLanders
If anything works in your house, Turn off every breaker in the panel ant then turn them back on.
I would also check the GFCI outlets in the house. Go to the kitchen, bathrooms and any outdoor outlet and press the little button until it trips….then press the “reset” bottom on each
I would also check the GFCI outlets in the house. Go to the kitchen, bathrooms and any outdoor outlet and press the little button until it trips….then press the “reset” bottom on each
This post was edited on 9/6/21 at 10:04 am
Posted on 9/6/21 at 9:57 am to BrockLanders
Do you have a multimeter? If so, check voltages and report back.
Measure voltage at the copper lugs of the main breaker?
Voltage from one lug to the other?
Voltage from one lug to neutral?
Voltage from the other lug to neutral?
Voltage from one lug to ground?
Voltage from the other lug to ground?
Neutral is where all the white wires are terminated.
Ground is where all the green wires are terminated.
If you are not comfortable with this, call an electrician.
Measure voltage at the copper lugs of the main breaker?
Voltage from one lug to the other?
Voltage from one lug to neutral?
Voltage from the other lug to neutral?
Voltage from one lug to ground?
Voltage from the other lug to ground?
Neutral is where all the white wires are terminated.
Ground is where all the green wires are terminated.
If you are not comfortable with this, call an electrician.
Posted on 9/6/21 at 10:01 am to BrockLanders
I think it’s the transformer as well. Our house had the same problem. We talked to several neighbors feeding off the same transformer, and they all had varying levels of power, but none had FULL power. They had to come and replace the transformer, fixed all our issues.
Keep calling entergy and telling them you don’t have full power (keep on them if they continuously switch you to “power on”). That’s what we had to do.
Keep calling entergy and telling them you don’t have full power (keep on them if they continuously switch you to “power on”). That’s what we had to do.
This post was edited on 9/6/21 at 10:03 am
Posted on 9/6/21 at 10:02 am to Spankum
quote:
If anything works in your house, it is not a problem with Entergy.
This is not correct.
It is quite common to have one leg working and one not for many reasons (some I stated above).
It takes 3 working wiring connections (2 hots, 1 neutral) to get full power to a 2 pole, single phase service. One hot and one neutral means only one side of the panel buss is energized.
"Only half the house is working!" is a very common power company complaint. It happens with underground feeders also due to age, corrosion, tree damage, etc.
Posted on 9/6/21 at 10:13 am to AndyCBR
OP Do not run your central unit until this is fixed..
Voltage swinging and low voltages can be can be disaster. When they hooked me up I found out with my voltmeter my line was unbalanced after a dryer fricked up.
Went back to generator power until they could come out and fix it.
Voltage swinging and low voltages can be can be disaster. When they hooked me up I found out with my voltmeter my line was unbalanced after a dryer fricked up.
Went back to generator power until they could come out and fix it.
Posted on 9/6/21 at 10:15 am to thejudge
quote:
OP Do not run your central unit until this is fixed.. Voltage swinging and low voltages can be can be disaster. When they hooked me up I found out with my voltmeter my line was unbalanced after a dryer fricked up. Went back to generator power until they could come out and fix it.
I did turn off the breaker to the a/c. Should I turn off the breakers to the appliances & washer/dryer?
Posted on 9/6/21 at 10:17 am to BrockLanders
Check the GFCIs
Posted on 9/6/21 at 10:20 am to BrockLanders
We unplugged all major appliances/electronics and cut breaker to air conditioner, dryer and stove (couldn’t easily get to that plug).
This post was edited on 9/6/21 at 10:21 am
Posted on 9/6/21 at 10:39 am to BrockLanders
Anything with a circuit board.
Old timer washing machines should be fine. If you hear the motor struggling kill it.
Unless you absolutely have to I'd go back to generator until it's resolved. You've made it this long. If you kill your fridges you may not get one for a long time. Took Took dad 6 months to get one he ordered.
Old timer washing machines should be fine. If you hear the motor struggling kill it.
Unless you absolutely have to I'd go back to generator until it's resolved. You've made it this long. If you kill your fridges you may not get one for a long time. Took Took dad 6 months to get one he ordered.
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