[SEL] OT! Electrical troubleshoting

[Rick Rowlands]

I would have just used the ground wire as a hot and been done with it. 
Whats the worst that can happen?  Everything is well grounded, big time!

I once had some 250 MCM aluminum wire turn to powder in the middle of an 
underground run.  The powder would carry enough current to show voltage but 
would carry no amps.  It was a 150 foot run.  I had an epiphany, started 
digging and within 2 feet found the problem.  Maybe you'll get that lucky 
too!

Rick
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Willman" <blcksmth at wcnet.org>
To: "'The SEL email discussion list'" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 4:02 PM
Subject: Re: [SEL] OT! Electrical troubleshoting


>
> I assumed that you were using a toner to follow the signal from the
> wire underground. That signal tracing device is easily fooled by high
> resistance connections. You must isolate the wires completely at both ends
> but even then if the wires are close together for any distance the tone 
> will
> show up on the adjacent conductors. If you get the pick-up close to the
> individual wires (underground in your case) you may be able to tell when 
> the
> signal is lost - it will be louder near that wire. Sounds like a good time
> to lay new wires in plastic conduit.
>
>
> Bob Willman
> The Eagle's Anvil
> WB8NQW
> Bowling Green, Ohio
>
> The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are
> willing to work and give to those who would not.
>
> Thomas Jefferson
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com
> [mailto:sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com] On Behalf Of Elden
> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 2:44 PM
> To: The SEL email discussion list
> Subject: Re: [SEL] OT! Electrical troubleshoting
>
> Curt:
>
> What I'd do would be to either connect all three conductors together at 
> the
> load end or ground all three (whichever works best).
>
> When the signal generator is connected between the white (the good wire) 
> and
> the black (the bad one) and a relatively low frequency signal is injected,
> the signal level should decrease sharply at the point of the break.
>
> In my experience, what I've found in such situations is that either the
> cable got nicked and corrosion has made the conductor fail -OR- some
> "scientist" spliced the cable using wire nuts!
>
> I would, however, suggest that you simply uproot the entire old cable and
> replace it with something more substantial.
>
> Take care - Elden
> http://www.oldengine.org/members/durand
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com
>> [mailto:sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com]On Behalf Of
>> curt at rustyiron.com
>> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 8:19 AM
>> To: The SEL email discussion list
>> Subject: [SEL] OT! Electrical troubleshoting
>>
>>
>> Hey guys and gals,
>> Since the SEL is a vast pool of knowledge to draw from, I need help
>> with troubleshooting an underground wire at the new place.
>> From the house is a
>> 12 ga wire that goes underground a couple of hundred feet to feed a
>> couple of pole lights. This is that gray outdoor wire.
>> The lights quit working and after some troubleshooting was surprised
>> to learn the wire itself is bad.
> .................snip................
>
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