Electricians, need help fast!! voltage issue

ohskigod

Long story short, I am glad I have a power conditioner with a Volt meter. Over the last week I noticed it slowly increasing and for the first time the "abnormal Voltage" light kicked on and the guage said 131 Volts.

PSEG (the power company) came out and low and behold, it's a bad transformer. I hapenned to talk to the guy as I just wanted to see if he was there for m service call and not something else (with Polkfest coming, you can see why I am being a neurotic @sshole about this)

He told me of the bad transformer and asked how I spotted it. I told him about my theater and the voltage meter. He said he knew how pricey those things can be so unplugging it would be a good Idea as he knows they will not reimburse that.

I wanna check with you guys, should I unplug my computer, gaming rig? I sure as heck know playing the Bass is out this weekend!!! :mad:

hoosier21

everything in your house is rated plus or minus 10% of 120v, so everything is at risk, your electronics are most likely to fry before your frig or oven

good luck

ohskigod

I take it a surge protector will not do squat in this case? looks like I am going cave man this weekend. already unplugged my bass rig, theater, and about to do the gaming rig and the Mac. thank god the weather is gorgeous.

HB27

Your power conditioner usually can be restored at a reasonable price IF it takes a hit. You bought it to protect your electronics and should use it.
Unplugging everything is the only way to insure you're safe. What's the use of even having gear you have to worry about if you can't use it.
And, NO, Surge protectors are little if anything more than a multi-outlet strip.

Ricardo

Cool. The rigs will sound louder at polkfest!!!!!

treitz3

Unplug anything and everything you value until the new transformer is installed. Stay on top of the electric company until this is resolved. The "squeaky wheel gets the grease" should be your motto until this is resolved.

As far as the surge protector? No.

ohskigod

the theater, Mac, bass rig, gaming rig etc are disconnected. I have a cheap laptop and web book I can periodically plug in and charge for the internet when needed.

I have an older crt tv in the bedroom that is staying plugged in too. other than that, I will be biking, taking the car out and getting my outdoors on. thank god it is a beautiful day here.

thanks for the guidance guys, I figured this was the route to go. I just wanted to check with you guys to make sure I wasnt being over paranoid. it should be changed monday. Luckily my stepfather in law's brother is a Veep in PSEG so if I gotta squeak, it's gonna be loud if this isnt resolved Monday.

I gave the neighbors near the tranny a heads up too to unplug the delicate stuff.

hearingimpared

Hey Louie,

Thanks for posting this. Although my Monster Power Center took a dump in that it won't output to outlets the digital meter showing the voltage in and amp draw still works. I think I'll plug it into and outlet of to the side of the rig so I can keep an eye on the voltage swings.

Hey man I don't have sweat having a pretty lights paper weight anymore!:D

bsoko2

Two months ago I was on my computer when the surge supressor went "BANG" and sparks flew and it died. Computer shut down and the lights did dim in the house but came back on. My gear is also hooked thru a Monster HT7500 and everything was OK. Called power company later and they said that a transformer up the line from us did blow up. I have my house on a whole house surge supressor at the main for just this thing. I had it put in 10 years ago to protect the home electronics.

Bill

ohskigod

bsoko2 wrote: »

Two months ago I was on my computer when the surge supressor went "BANG" and sparks flew and it died. Computer shut down and the lights did dim in the house but came back on. My gear is also hooked thru a Monster HT7500 and everything was OK. Called power company later and they said that a transformer up the line from us did blow up. I have my house on a whole house surge supressor at the main for just this thing. I had it put in 10 years ago to protect the home electronics.

Bill

curious, is the whole house protector the once that went spark and bang, or one in your house, cuious if one in your house went bang in spite of a whole house protector.

if you dont mind asking, how much effort and $ did a whole house surge protector entail?

bsoko2

ohskigod wrote: »

curious, is the whole house protector the once that went spark and bang, or one in your house, cuious if one in your house went bang in spite of a whole house protector.

if you dont mind asking, how much effort and $ did a whole house surge protector entail?

The computer surge was an old one from the 80's so it probably wasn't up to specs. At the time I had the house one done, the electrians were into the box wiring up some Intertherm heaters for me. Since the box was open they offered it to me installed for 450. As long as the blinking light stays green it is good to go. When and if it goes red, then have to push the reset.

Bill

I-SIG

If the power company knows they have a bad transformer and don't replace post haste, then they are liable if it fries your stuff because they know of a hazardous condition.

OTOH, if I knew my voltage was abnormally high, say above 126VAC, then I would strongly consider unplugging my important gear.

I would have them check the neutral as it may be damaged somewhere and causing the abnormal voltage as well, at the pole/padmount and on the utility side of your service entrance.

Wes

ohskigod

I-SIG wrote: »

If the power company knows they have a bad transformer and don't replace post haste, then they are liable if it fries your stuff because they know of a hazardous condition.

OTOH, if I knew my voltage was abnormally high, say above 126VAC, then I would strongly consider unplugging my important gear.

I would have them check the neutral as it may be damaged somewhere and causing the abnormal voltage as well, at the pole/padmount and on the utility side of your service entrance.

Wes

they checked all the houses in the area and tracked it to the transformer. they know exactly which one is going south and it is supposed to be swapped monday. As I said, as much as this sucks, it would be worse if this problem popped up in a couple of weeks with Polkfest on the horizon.


thankfully they cam at the right time too, when the truck was here, the meter was reading 130......later in the day I replugged it in and checked, it was down to 125......still going mostly caveman.

I forgot I bought a small batery powered guitar amp so I am playing the bass again at least. and this web book is saving my **** too, it's plugged into the wal, but if this little thing fries, I'll live.

this, the mini bass amp, and a 27" tv in my bedroom is the xtent of my home entertainment until Monday night.

newbie308

My friend's beach house had the ground wire corrode through. The result was a total loss of all electical devices in the house. Without the ground connected one leg was measured at 180vac. This high voltage destroyed the range, hot water heater, televisions, several light bulbs, the lawn sprinkler timer, and the refrigerator. Don't tempt fate - you will lose!

Gadabout

ohskigod wrote: »

if you dont mind asking, how much effort and $ did a whole house surge protector entail?

The most popular whole house protectors are the Levitron 51120 and the Panamax SEP200. Square D also makes one but I have not seen one of these installed before.

The instructions are pretty clear on both models, if your comfortable with do it yourself. The offer hook up in the breaker panel or outside between the meter and the panel. Lightman can probably fill you ion better on the details of the install, if you plan on doing it yourself.

The electricians around here quoted me $100 to $150 for the install. Also, some electric co-ops / companies offer the install for free but they bill you monthly for having one installed. (similar to the cable box fees)

Hope that helps a bit,
Scott