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There are multiple questions on this page. Be sure to scroll
down to find the one you're looking for!
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I am running power to an outbuilding sub panel using 4-wire
URD cable. Do I need to pound a ground rod at the outbuilding, or is the ground from the main panel sufficient? If I did pound
a ground rod, would I still run the ground wire from the main panel?
The Code now requires that you run a separate ground conductor from the main panel,
keep neutrals and grounds separate at the sub panel, AND drive a ground rod and bond it to the ground in the sub panel at
the remote location. The only time you’re not required to drive a sub panel ground rod is if the sub panel is located
in the same building as the main service panel.
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I live in a duplex. Both sides have their own service,
and get separate bills. My neighbor has central air conditioning. Whenever his A/C kicks on, my lights blink. Is this normal?
I called the electric company; their answer was that it had something to do with my wiring, and they don't go past the meter
regarding inquiries.
Your homes are most likely supplied by a common feeder line that originates at the
utility pole and terminates in your building’s meter bank. The
power company is correct; it’s usually due to the original installer’s use of smaller-than-required wires to feed
both homes when the building was constructed. In most
cases, the only answer is to run an additional service drop from the utility pole to your own meter so you're no longer sharing
the same feeder line.
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My kitchen light just flickered and went out. When I went
to check the circuit breaker, I noticed my furnace was out also. Resetting the breakers didn’t help, but when I went
to turn on my electric range, the light came on! What could possibly be happening here?
You may be dealing with a bad main breaker or loose/bad phase connection at your
panel. When you turn on a 240 volt device (such as an electric range, well pump, or dryer) power will backfeed through the
device and power the loads on the bad phase. This is an
unsafe condition and you need to contact a licensed electrician to remedy it for you.
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For a 200 amp service using aluminum service entrance cable,
can I use a #2 AWG conductor as a neutral?
No. In most cases you are allowed to size down one trade size for the neutral conductor. A 200 amp service would require a 2/0 minimum size neutral conductor.
I have a sub panel in my detached garage. Recently, the breaker
in the house has been tripping, but the two breakers in the garage box remain ON. I did some troubleshooting with each breaker
in the garage, but even with both breakers off it still trips the inside one. I'm wondering what would cause the main box
to trip, but not the box in the garage?
The circuit breakers in the sub panel are designed to protect circuits being powered
FROM that panel. The circuit breaker in the main panel is there to protect circuits running TO the garage. You may have a problem on the feeder cable supplying the garage sub panel, or a
problem in the wiring of the sub panel itself.
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Licensed electricians serving Orange
county, Sullivan county, and Ulster county in New York (845) 888-8000
_________________________________________________________________________________________________ All information contained within this site ©2004-2016, Wurtsboro Electric Service, Inc. All rights
reserved.
Reproducing or duplicating any information contained herein is prohibited by law.
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