OK! It's my turn with the EDES

[JD Jones]

I'm always bragging about how good my electrical service is.

So now, it my turn to have a problem.

My setup is a normal 240V circuit backed up by my 120V inverter with the two gel batteries and my Honda Generator which I connect with a three-way throw switch.

The electricity goes off, the inverter takes over.

If and when the batteries drain down,(seldom) I throw the switch, start the generator and that charges the batteries and gives me 240V to the house.

I noticed on Saturday morning that the A/C wasn't working, I went to check the inverter, and it was down to about 25%.

I started the generator, and everything goes back to normal. I kept checking all day, and the electricity didn't come back, but the inverter was sounding funny, like it was overloaded.

I decided the check the street voltage, and found I had 120V on one leg, and only 70V on the other leg.

The inverter was connected to the 70V side, so I moved the breakers around and put the inverter on the 120V side.

Follow all of that? Now everything is back to normal, but no A/C.

My meter is up on the main road by the entrance, so I have about 350 ft or so of wires to my breakers.

If I have low power on one of those wires, I think it should be a problem with the meter. (I have had the same problem at work 4 times over the years) The electrical engineer I called said it was a "floating ground" and he showed me how the neutral wire had low voltage on it, something it shouldn't have.

I went on the EDESUR app. described my problem, and they gave me the standard "The circuit is operating normally."

If the circuit is fine, the problem must be with the meter, So I think EDESUR should fix the problem.

The 350ft of wiring comes down in a 3-inch tube, so I don't see that going bad.

Anyway, that's where I am at the moment. While I'm waiting for an official response from EDESUR, I'm going to call an Electrician of theirs I know to come and take a look.

I'll let ya'll know how it works out.

 

[LindseyKaufman]

Always something here. Just think of it as this. The challenges and solutions we find keep us young.

Keep us posted JD.

 

[Glenn Burke]

I don't know how it works where you live, but in Santo Domingo I had the same situation a few times in different apartments where I lived (low voltage on one phase, another phase is normal), and each time the problem was the transformer on the post that they had to change.
There is nothing in the meter that can drop the voltage from 120V to 70V. Depending on where and how your meter is installed, there may be a plate with contacts behind it, and sometimes those contacts start to burn and they have to change the plate, but it will not give you that voltage drop. The problem is probably the nearest transformer. And yes, the circuit is operating normally (from their point of view), but the transformer has to be changed. They hate to do it, they need to send a bucket truck with a new transformer for that, so they normally keep telling you that everything is fine and you have to insist that they have to measure the voltage and change the transformer. May take some days or weeks.

 

[XTraveller]

I'm always bragging about how good my electrical service is.

So now, it my turn to have a problem.

My setup is a normal 240V circuit backed up by my 120V inverter with the two gel batteries and my Honda Generator which I connect with a three-way throw switch.

The electricity goes off, the inverter takes over.

If and when the batteries drain down,(seldom) I throw the switch, start the generator and that charges the batteries and gives me 240V to the house.

I noticed on Saturday morning that the A/C wasn't working, I went to check the inverter, and it was down to about 25%.

I started the generator, and everything goes back to normal. I kept checking all day, and the electricity didn't come back, but the inverter was sounding funny, like it was overloaded.

I decided the check the street voltage, and found I had 120V on one leg, and only 70V on the other leg.

The inverter was connected to the 70V side, so I moved the breakers around and put the inverter on the 120V side.

Follow all of that? Now everything is back to normal, but no A/C.

My meter is up on the main road by the entrance, so I have about 350 ft or so of wires to my breakers.

If I have low power on one of those wires, I think it should be a problem with the meter. (I have had the same problem at work 4 times over the years) The electrical engineer I called said it was a "floating ground" and he showed me how the neutral wire had low voltage on it, something it shouldn't have.

I went on the EDESUR app. described my problem, and they gave me the standard "The circuit is operating normally."

If the circuit is fine, the problem must be with the meter, So I think EDESUR should fix the problem.

The 350ft of wiring comes down in a 3-inch tube, so I don't see that going bad.

Anyway, that's where I am at the moment. While I'm waiting for an official response from EDESUR, I'm going to call an Electrician of theirs I know to come and take a look.

I'll let ya'll know how it works out.

 

[XTraveller]

When your Electrician comes buy have him remove the meter and measure the voltage on the line side of each 120v to the neutral. If 1 leg is70v to neutral then the problem is on edesur. I had similar problem and its the neutral that was a bad corrosive connection. Here they use the stranded shield part of the drop cable as the neutral which tends to corrode and make a bad connection.

 

[Glenn Burke]

When your Electrician comes buy have him remove the meter and measure the voltage on the line side of each 120v to the neutral. If 1 leg is70v to neutral then the problem is on edesur. I had similar problem and its the neutral that was a bad corrosive connection. Here they use the stranded shield part of the drop cable as the neutral which tends to corrode and make a bad connection.

He doesn't have a problem with neutral, he doesn't have A/C, and A/C doesn't use neutral cable at all, there are only two phases to each A/C unit (if we talk about split systems, not the window unit). There's normally something like 120V between each phase and the neutral, and something from 208V to 240V between two phases (the exact voltage between two phases depends on the circuit). So what he has to do is to measure the voltage between two phases, and if it's less than usual 208V or 240V, that's the bad transformer.

 

[JD Jones]

He doesn't have a problem with neutral, he doesn't have A/C, and A/C doesn't use neutral cable at all, there are only two phases to each A/C unit (if we talk about split systems, not the window unit). There's normally something like 120V between each phase and the neutral, and something from 208V to 240V between two phases (the exact voltage between two phases depends on the circuit). So what he has to do is to measure the voltage between two phases, and if it's less than usual 208V or 240V, that's the bad transformer.

We have 11 apartments on the same transformer and I'm the only one with a problem, so I'm guessing the transformer is not the problem.

 

[XTraveller]

We have 11 apartments on the same transformer and I'm the only one with a problem, so I'm guessing the transformer is not the problem.

Once you remove the meter you would be able to isolate if the problem is on the ede side or towards your apartment. 350ft is a long distance......once the meter is remove you would be able to see if the cable has overheated in time. I say this because I suspect that this faulty leg (120v) supplies most of you load (inverter) plus half of the load of your AC.

Let us know of the results and good luck. At least you are not in the dark for now....

 

[JD Jones]

Once you remove the meter you would be able to isolate if the problem is on the ede side or towards your apartment. 350ft is a long distance......once the meter is remove you would be able to see if the cable has overheated in time. I say this because I suspect that this faulty leg (120v) supplies most of you load (inverter) plus half of the load of your AC.

Let us know of the results and good luck. At least you are not in the dark for now....

Bingo. I was waiting to see if anyone caught that. That's why I mentioned I moved the breaker from one leg to the other.

I'm not sure how many of my neighbors have inverters, but they all have A/C.

The copper wire is robust, so I'm guessing the problem is a connection at the meter.

 

[chico bill]

I'm always bragging about how good my electrical service is.

So now, it my turn to have a problem.

My setup is a normal 240V circuit backed up by my 120V inverter with the two gel batteries and my Honda Generator which I connect with a three-way throw switch.

The electricity goes off, the inverter takes over.

If and when the batteries drain down,(seldom) I throw the switch, start the generator and that charges the batteries and gives me 240V to the house.

I noticed on Saturday morning that the A/C wasn't working, I went to check the inverter, and it was down to about 25%.

I started the generator, and everything goes back to normal. I kept checking all day, and the electricity didn't come back, but the inverter was sounding funny, like it was overloaded.

I decided the check the street voltage, and found I had 120V on one leg, and only 70V on the other leg.

The inverter was connected to the 70V side, so I moved the breakers around and put the inverter on the 120V side.

Follow all of that? Now everything is back to normal, but no A/C.

My meter is up on the main road by the entrance, so I have about 350 ft or so of wires to my breakers.

If I have low power on one of those wires, I think it should be a problem with the meter. (I have had the same problem at work 4 times over the years) The electrical engineer I called said it was a "floating ground" and he showed me how the neutral wire had low voltage on it, something it shouldn't have.

I went on the EDESUR app. described my problem, and they gave me the standard "The circuit is operating normally."

If the circuit is fine, the problem must be with the meter, So I think EDESUR should fix the problem.

The 350ft of wiring comes down in a 3-inch tube, so I don't see that going bad.

Anyway, that's where I am at the moment. While I'm waiting for an official response from EDESUR, I'm going to call an Electrician of theirs I know to come and take a look.

I'll let ya'll know how it works out.

Listen carefully at the meter to hear if there is any arching behind the meter. The cheap aluminum wires they use in the service drops often corrode and break and get loose in the lugs.
Take out the meter and retighten the lugs on the neutral.
Don't worry they don't really care if you cut the lock.
Heck my neighbor had trouble with his meter not making contact so he removed it and put in two jumper wires and we've gone through several billing cycles and no visit from Edenorte. His meter lies on the ground below the meter socket.
If you want to save some money on electricity and future hassle pay to have copper installed to replace the aluminum wires.

 

[chico bill]

I don't know how it works where you live, but in Santo Domingo I had the same situation a few times in different apartments where I lived (low voltage on one phase, another phase is normal), and each time the problem was the transformer on the post that they had to change.
There is nothing in the meter that can drop the voltage from 120V to 70V. Depending on where and how your meter is installed, there may be a plate with contacts behind it, and sometimes those contacts start to burn and they have to change the plate, but it will not give you that voltage drop. The problem is probably the nearest transformer. And yes, the circuit is operating normally (from their point of view), but the transformer has to be changed. They hate to do it, they need to send a bucket truck with a new transformer for that, so they normally keep telling you that everything is fine and you have to insist that they have to measure the voltage and change the transformer. May take some days or weeks.

Bad neutral - guaranteed that is his issue. Corroded aluminum at the meter. Probably happens to someone on this forum everyday

 

[Glenn Burke]

Bad neutral - guaranteed that is his issue. Corroded aluminum at the meter. Probably happens to someone on this forum everyday

Well, if you know that other people connected to the same transformer have normal voltage and transformer is not the issue, and you are sure that the problem is at the meter, why don't just make a report that you have no electricity at all? Not just call them, make a report (they give you the case number so you can follow up). That way they will come to see what's the problem, then meet them at the meter, explain the problem and let them do their job to fix their crappy wiring. If the voltage drop is from 120V to 70V, everything behind that meter must be hot as hell so you can smell the where the problem is just when you're standing in front of it. If it's that obvious, why even post here? Submit a report that you have no power, wait for them and that's it.

 

[aeng]

I agree with chico bill, bad Neutral. Happened to me before.

 

[JD Jones]

Well, if you know that other people connected to the same transformer have normal voltage and transformer is not the issue, and you are sure that the problem is at the meter, why don't just make a report that you have no electricity at all? Not just call them, make a report (they give you the case number so you can follow up). That way they will come to see what's the problem, then meet them at the meter, explain the problem and let them do their job to fix their crappy wiring. If the voltage drop is from 120V to 70V, everything behind that meter must be hot as hell so you can smell the where the problem is just when you're standing in front of it. If it's that obvious, why even post here? Submit a report that you have no power, wait for them and that's it.

I wrote this as a "this time it happened to me , and this is what I'm doing about it" story for the other members.

I filed a report on Sunday and have a report number and I'm waiting for them to come.

If the electrician comes by before the EDE crew does, I'll have him check the meter. ChicoBill, Aeng, and I are all on the same page that it's probably the service drop at the meter.
In the meantime, I'm letting my generator stretch it's legs.

 

[bob saunders]

Listen carefully at the meter to hear if there is any arching behind the meter. The cheap aluminum wires they use in the service drops often corrode and break and get loose in the lugs.
Take out the meter and retighten the lugs on the neutral.
Don't worry they don't really care if you cut the lock.
Heck my neighbor had trouble with his meter not making contact so he removed it and put in two jumper wires and we've gone through several billing cycles and no visit from Edenorte. His meter lies on the ground below the meter socket.
If you want to save some money on electricity and future hassle pay to have copper installed to replace the aluminum wires.

We had a similar problem several years ago and the electrician replaced the aluminum with copper as Chico suggests. Issue solved. Keep us updated.

 

[lifeisgreat]

A couple yrs ago I had flickering lights on and off and getting worse … it ended up being a big ass rat going behind the meter frying meter and causing small fire.. check connections are tight behind meter they get lose.

 

[JD Jones]

Sooo. Random observations.

I logged in yesterday on my PC to view the status of my order. Easy because my browser remembers my login and password.

I just tried to log in again this morning. My login and password pop right up, and when I hit enter, I get a "User not found" message. Yikes!

Just for S and G, I tried to create a new user, and of course, it tells me I already exist. yuk yuk

I tried whatsapp, and I got the "all the reps are busy, try again later" message.

BTW, on whatsapp, any attempts before 8 am will get you a "your contract number is invalid" message. Nice to know.

When I contact them on Whatsapp, it tells me to download the app. When I go to the app, it tells me to contact them on Whatsapp.

TBH, I log into their page frequently, so obviously they're having an IT issue this morning.

 

[AlterEgo]

Sooo. I logged in yesterday to view the status of my order. Easy because my browser remembers my login and password.

I just tried to login again this morning. My login and password pop right up, and when I hit enter, I get a "User not found" message. Yikes!

Just for S and G, I tried to create a new user, and of course, it tells me I already exist. yuk yuk

I tried the app, and I got the "all the reps are busy, try again later" message.

Life in DR. And people blame salt for all the hypertension there.

 

[JD Jones]

I just tried again, and entered without a hitch.

Have you ever been in a govt. office? While they open at 8, they always fiddle-daddle around for a half an hour or so before they start functioning.

On the website, my report number now shows up, and it says "En tratamiento"

 

[webmacon]

Got a little higher voltage problem were the inverters show incoming 135 from time to time and this triggers my UPSs to block the incoming. Now testing a 3500 voltage regulator before the inverter to keep voltage in the correct range and also protects the inverter at the same time.

Still in testing phase week, until now looks good, always something here in this country.