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Electrical Problems
TheBrassMan
Member Posts: 3,807 ✭✭✭
I hate being a home owner sometimes.
Came home Thursday evening and most of electric in the house was out.
Called FPL they showed up at 9:45 and checked everything. Everything was fine on their side of the meter.
So it wasn't the power companies problem.
I pulled the cover off of the main breaker box, 240 volts on the side coming from the meter.
Put the tester on the house side of the breaker, 127 volts[:(]
Main breaker is fried.
Only thing running in the house is the fridge and 2 lights[:(]
Have to call the electrician tomorrow morning. Wife and the kids are staying at the MIL's.
I go home and stay at the house at night in the heat[:(]
I can plug a fan in and blow it on me so I get some minor relief.
Really stinks when the heat index at night is in the 90's[xx(]
Hope the electrician can fix it within a day or two. Home Depot and Lowes did not have the breaker [:(!]
Came home Thursday evening and most of electric in the house was out.
Called FPL they showed up at 9:45 and checked everything. Everything was fine on their side of the meter.
So it wasn't the power companies problem.
I pulled the cover off of the main breaker box, 240 volts on the side coming from the meter.
Put the tester on the house side of the breaker, 127 volts[:(]
Main breaker is fried.
Only thing running in the house is the fridge and 2 lights[:(]
Have to call the electrician tomorrow morning. Wife and the kids are staying at the MIL's.
I go home and stay at the house at night in the heat[:(]
I can plug a fan in and blow it on me so I get some minor relief.
Really stinks when the heat index at night is in the 90's[xx(]
Hope the electrician can fix it within a day or two. Home Depot and Lowes did not have the breaker [:(!]
Comments
as far as the electrician I would think even if they had to replace your breaker box with a new one and new breakers if nothing else tosses a wrench into the mix I would say the repair /replacement with in a day or less have it all changed out . with luck they will have the breaker you need . also just me if they do I would buy a spare [;)]
good luck .
I had ours changed out from a 100 amp to 200 amp box with three maybe 4 hours all done [;)]
It is weird here. The main breaker is in a box by itself next to the meter.
The breaker panel is in the laundry room. It was updated in the late 80's or early 90's from fuses.
Hopefully he will have the breaker. Otherwise he will have to file for a permit to change the box[:(!]
Here you have to get a permit to change a light bulb, pain in the butt here to do any work on your home.
Well I would say go to Home Depot or whatever store you have like that and pick up a breaker. Fifteen minute fix. Save $200. If you can take off the box cover and use a meter you should be able to replace the breaker.
Home Depot and Lowes, neither had the breaker. Even our have everything they don't have hardware shop
didn't have it[:(]
Hopefully the electrician will have one.
I know most around here keep a stash of oddball stuff that they take off or rewire jobs.
Our old Florida home is 100 Amp service. For now I hope he can just change the breaker.
It is weird here. The main breaker is in a box by itself next to the meter.
The breaker panel is in the laundry room. It was updated in the late 80's or early 90's from fuses.
Hopefully he will have the breaker. Otherwise he will have to file for a permit to change the box[:(!]
Here you have to get a permit to change a light bulb, pain in the butt here to do any work on your home.
Hope you don't have FPL. Their main office decided my meter base was burnt and they installed some type of temperary lug so we still had power until I replaced the base. Problem was, they left the meter laying on the ground, and installed nothing. Power was off! Problem was a blown main breaker that I found at an electrical supply house,because the box was an old off brand and installed the next day. FPL main office would not accept fact from their own employees, the licensed electrician on the site, or the county inspector! Ended up replacing the meter base just to get em off my back. Then filed for compensation from FPL. Been 6 months and still waiting.
Oh, I never mentioned the breaker, once I heard their tale. Woulda just confused things more.
Florida licensed electricians have leeway on pulling, and replacing meters without a permit in hand, not that you'll get away without county interference, but so you don't have to wait a week for an inspector to approve the job to get it back up. (mine never came out, a call from the electrician was all it took.)
Not impossible to replace energized but not smart
Took the electrician about 30 minutes to find a breaker. From the time I called him to the time
he gave me the bill was about 1 hour.
He didn't have the breaker in his van so he had to go get one.
FPL wasn't involved. In FL. licensed electricians are licensed to cut the wire tag on the meter box and pull the meter.
No permit needed to just change the main breaker.
He said eventually we will have to change the box. But that may be years down the road.
Changing the box will involve a permit and FPL and inspections. Said right now it would cost about $400
to change the box out.
Did cost $150 to have him do what he did[:(] Rather have him take the chance then myself[:D]
Also asked him what it would cost to change over to 200amp service. He said way to much and it isn't worth it.
He said seeing as we do not have central air there is no need for 200amp service.
The old Florida homes are really not meant for 200 amp service or central air.
I am happy my 2 window units are working fine:D
On the other hand FPL does not like me because I have refused the "Smart Meter" in writing.
They charged each person $95 to opt out of the smart meter and $13 a month for meter reading.
Those charges are in court right now. No other states utilities commission in the U.S. has allowed the
electrical utilities to make those charges.
They have actually lowered the $13 a month to $9 a month. But if FPL loses the suit they will have to
refund everyone the $95 and the monthly charge.
I hope it is not a Pacific[B)]
Not Pacific[:D]
We luck out there.
and sounds like you have it under control
now just enjoy the cool air [:D]
quote:Originally posted by proapp
I hope it is not a Pacific[B)]
Not Pacific[:D]
We luck out there.
I think the residential side went tits up in early 80's.
I bought an old 22k sqft Sears retail/dist/warehouse in
2009 and it had all Pacific (4 panels 2 transformers) with
480v 3ph. The city said if we open a panel remove and replace it.
I notice a lot of people on here don't think about shopping online. I bet I save 20-30% on just about EVERYTHING I buy online, compared to regular retail stores.
Of course, if you need it that second, you need it! But, overnight shipping on Amazon is usually only $5-10 more. Bargain if you are saving $50!
Merc
What is wrong with you guys? If you don't need it right this second, or can't find it, look on Amazon or Ebay for those breakers.
Yep you can. I found this duct damper motor actuator on Amazon that was approx. $40 bucks cheaper than the local HVAC parts store back in June. Free shipping plus it arrived in just 2 days.