Electrical guys...half the house without power (1 Viewer)

[That one guy]

I have a call in to the electrician, but being the weekend no idea when I’ll get a return call.  

I’ve played with breaker box, none of the offending breakers were tripped upon initial inspection.  Power to to stove only half works; electronic controls all work, actual burners/oven do not.  AC same thing, control system is on but doesn’t react to changes.  Fancy hybrid water heater has message readout of “bad line”.  Reset main outside breaker and nothing changed, parts that had power prior still do and those that didn’t still don’t.

Google tells me it could be a “hot leg” wiring issue, but I haven’t a clue about electrical stuffs outside of looking for tripped breakers and resetting GFCI outlets.  So, as I wait and worry about potential cost of whatever repairs, anyone out there expercience such a thing or have electrical knowledge to offer?

 

[Cowboysfan8]

You lost a leg

 

[Cowboysfan8]

Power comes into your panel on 2 hot wires. One feeds each side of your panel .
 

You lost power on one of them 

 

[Cowboysfan8]

Talk to your neighbors and see if they have same prob. Could be transformer on pole

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Yeah I would call local electric company this sounds like an issue on their end

 

[comfortably numb]

Any neighbors chop down any electrical poles?

 

[That one guy]

This is a relatively new neighborhood, too; only 3 years old.  Is the wiring of a stove made in such where if not enough power is coming the control system works but actual heating elements do not?  That’s baffling to me

 

[ChiefD]

Power comes into your panel on 2 hot wires. One feeds each side of your panel .
 

You lost power on one of them 

This. I had this happen on new years day this year. One of my legs broke underground. Had to dig up the whole yard and bury new cable.

Call your power company. 

 

[wilked]

Something changed. Question is, what changed. 
 

were you doing any work on your house? Any exceptional high winds? 

 

[Cowboysfan8]

This is a relatively new neighborhood, too; only 3 years old.  Is the wiring of a stove made in such where if not enough power is coming the control system works but actual heating elements do not?  That’s baffling to me

Stove is 240, You lost a leg you only have 120

eta: yes, controls are low voltage

 

[That one guy]

Duke Energy doesn’t seem to have weekend service, so I guess that waits until tomorrow. 

No work has been done on or in the house.  Everything was working yesterday and this morning the odd half and half.  The only change, so to speak, has been putting up of Christmas tree, but that was done Friday morning.  The outside decorations haven’t gone up yet, so no sort of potential overload from that.  Direct neighbors aren’t home this weekend, so can’t inquire with them

 

[Cowboysfan8]

No wkend service my ###!

They have to have on call..

 

[That one guy]

Stove is 240, You lost a leg you only have 120

eta: yes, controls are low voltage

Can this leg thing be a housing wire issue or solely source of power issue?

 

[Cowboysfan8]

Can this leg thing be a housing wire issue or solely source of power issue?

Power issue coming into you panel

Could be your problem or the power company problem, depends on where the issue is 

 

[culdeus]

Duke Energy doesn’t seem to have weekend service, so I guess that waits until tomorrow. 

No work has been done on or in the house.  Everything was working yesterday and this morning the odd half and half.  The only change, so to speak, has been putting up of Christmas tree, but that was done Friday morning.  The outside decorations haven’t gone up yet, so no sort of potential overload from that.  Direct neighbors aren’t home this weekend, so can’t inquire with them

Bull####.  Tell them you have DME that depends on this and they can pay for a hotel night or come out. 

 

[Cowboysfan8]

Bull####.  Tell them you have DME that depends on this and they can pay for a hotel night or come out. 

This

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

Have you tried licking the wires? Like when an ink pen won't work?

Sorry. The other guys have got you covered. 

 

[That one guy]

Bull####.  Tell them you have DME that depends on this and they can pay for a hotel night or come out. 

I’d love to, but all numbers I’m calling are automated and say to call back during working hours...still trying to find some method of communication with them, I find it hard to believe a power company wouldn’t have weekend hours

 

[That one guy]

Have you tried licking the wires? Like when an ink pen won't work?

Sorry. The other guys have got you covered. 

Yeah Dad, I’ll see if that 9-volt battery is working for you!

 

[Cowboysfan8]

I’d love to, but all numbers I’m calling are automated and say to call back during working hours...still trying to find some method of communication with them, I find it hard to believe a power company wouldn’t have weekend hours

Any “in case if emergency” #s on the meter or anywhere?

Maybe try the # that you use to report outage?

 

[ChiefD]

I’d love to, but all numbers I’m calling are automated and say to call back during working hours...still trying to find some method of communication with them, I find it hard to believe a power company wouldn’t have weekend hours

I guarantee they have an emergency crew available. They probably have a hundred guys working today.

Report an outage at your house.

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

Any “in case if emergency” #s on the meter or anywhere?

Maybe try the # that you use to report outage?

For some reason, I read that 2nd lines as:

Maybe try the # that you use to report outrage?

And I thought ... COOL - I gotta look that # up!

Anyways, nice work.

 

[culdeus]

I’d love to, but all numbers I’m calling are automated and say to call back during working hours...still trying to find some method of communication with them, I find it hard to believe a power company wouldn’t have weekend hours

1-800-769-3766

 

[That one guy]

1-800-769-3766

Reroutes to automated message.  I finally utilized option to report full outage (as I previously had been honest and pressing number for partial outage) and suddenly got automated message about power being restored by 330pm today.  I have since spoke with the electrician I called and he indicated similar issue has occurred with other clients this weekend and it is Duke Energy side of things.  He also said they are definitely 24-hours, I just need to keep trying different options until a person picks up (he says they’re right #### for customer service regardless).  All 2-pole breakers have been turned off upon his advice as a just in case when power does come back to avoid possible surge.  Lastly, I don’t know if this is an indicator that work is being done, but smoke alarms are intermittently chirping and then voice says “press test button”.  I’m guessing this is due to power coming and going to that breaker?

 

[Cowboysfan8]

Reroutes to automated message.  I finally utilized option to report full outage (as I previously had been honest and pressing number for partial outage) and suddenly got automated message about power being restored by 330pm today.  I have since spoke with the electrician I called and he indicated similar issue has occurred with other clients this weekend and it is Duke Energy side of things.  He also said they are definitely 24-hours, I just need to keep trying different options until a person picks up (he says they’re right #### for customer service regardless).  All 2-pole breakers have been turned off upon his advice as a just in case when power does come back to avoid possible surge.  Lastly, I don’t know if this is an indicator that work is being done, but smoke alarms are intermittently chirping and then voice says “press test button”.  I’m guessing this is due to power coming and going to that breaker?

I’m thinking it’s because there’s no power to them and the batteries took over, but not sure 

 

[fatness]

Power outage information for Duke Energy, state by state: https://www.duke-energy.com/outages

 

[culdeus]

I’m thinking it’s because there’s no power to them and the batteries took over, but not sure 

And the batteries are low

 

[gianmarco]

Yep, and when you call them and get a hold of someone, you tell them 220, 221.... Whatever it takes.

 

[Kal El]

This is a relatively new neighborhood, too; only 3 years old.  Is the wiring of a stove made in such where if not enough power is coming the control system works but actual heating elements do not?  That’s baffling to me

Heating elements take up a LOT of power, because all that electrical energy is converted directly to heat. 1 line can power the controls, but won't be enough to power the actual heating element. Sounds like a bad line coming in.

 

[That one guy]

Duke Energy truck showed up nearly 2 hours ago, no power now as they do whatever they’re doing.  Fellas aren’t too talkative, so not much has been learned from them other than power is out 

 

[Kal El]

Duke Energy truck showed up nearly 2 hours ago, no power now as they do whatever they’re doing.  Fellas aren’t too talkative, so not much has been learned from them other than power is out 

If it's cold where you are, that can play havoc with power lines, more so if it's icy. Shutting off the power altogether is simply wanting to avoid electrocution. They're dealing with thousands of volts of power before it gets to the transformer.

 

[That one guy]

They’re done, was one of the lines coming in to the house.  Apparently the casing was cracked and water got in it.  Thankfully not the largest repair and we’re back up and running.  I learned a little bit more about electricity today, so that’s fun. Appreciate all the responses, certainly the strangest power issue I’d ever encountered

 

[comfortably numb]

If it's cold where you are, that can play havoc with power lines, more so if it's icy. Shutting off the power altogether is simply wanting to avoid electrocution. They're dealing with thousands of volts of power before it gets to the transformer.

Wussification of America continues!

 

[Kal El]

Wussification of America continues!

Google "arc flash video" and watch guys die when they get hit by one, and get back to me.

 

[comfortably numb]

Google "arc flash video" and watch guys die when they get hit by one, and get back to me.

Google "sarcasm" and watch guys get hit with one, and get back to me

 

[ChiefD]

Google "arc flash video" and watch guys die when they get hit by one, and get back to me.

No kidding. I almost made a deathly mistake in a breaker box years ago when I was remodeling houses for a living. Broke the #1 rule an electrician once told me: 

“Always be aware of where both hands are when working in a breaker box.”

I’ve always remembered that. 

 

[Kal El]

Google "sarcasm" and watch guys get hit with one, and get back to me

I recognized the sarcasm, but better safe than dead.

 

[culdeus]

No kidding. I almost made a deathly mistake in a breaker box years ago when I was remodeling houses for a living. Broke the #1 rule an electrician once told me: 

“Always be aware of where both hands are when working in a breaker box.”

I’ve always remembered that. 

Also a good tip in a threesome