I have had this issue on a number of houses. In each case, the issue was at the utility service entrance. To date, here is what happened.
Out of a present inventory of 42 houses [I buy houses and make them rentals] 30 of them have had low voltage at the service entrance. Of those 30 only 2 were not aluminum main cable from power company. The aluminum entry cables, with use, heat up more than copper. With each heat, the aluminum embeds due to expansion, further into the clamp screws. When it is unloaded [AC cycles off, for example] it cools and retracts from the clamp screw, leaving a slight air gap. Aluminum corrodes quickly, so the air gap allows corrosion at the contact point, which degrades the connection. which sets up arcing when the connection is loaded again [AC kicks back on]. Over time, the combination of expansion, contraction, corrosion, and arcing cause a loss of good solid connection and a degradation of available voltage at the end plug. Electrical Rule #1: Clean, Bright, Tight. The first indication this has happened is usually found with a meter at a wall socket, for 110 or by checking each leg of a 220 plug. I have found, on some houses, as low as 85 volts at a 110 wall socket. It's so common from my experience, I've now made it part of any "pre-buy inspection". >From your description of the issues. It suggests you are having this same issue... The fix is simple, CALL THE UTILITY to check the main feed connections... then CALL A CERTIFIED ELECTRICIAN to check all the other connections... Early, self induced cremation does not a good Mercedes owner make. On Sun, Sep 30, 2018 at 6:33 AM ROGER HALE via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > Mitch, > > Thank you for finally taking the prudent and safe approach. The > utility should NOT charge you as they are obligated, just as the gas and > water, to insure that they are providing safe service to your house (and > even inside in case of the gas utility). If they can't find fault outside, > then have an electrician standing by to check inside as it might be > something that will require coordination between the utility and an > electrician to fix. This will save time and mainly it will "keep you safe > from harm". I've been nipped by 220v before so I have a strong and healthy > respect for electricity. > > Good luck and best wishes, > > Roger > > Roger Hale > Dinnerware Classics, Inc. > Monroe, Ga. > 770-267-0850 > www.dinnerwareclassics.com > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
