Bill Easterlin Posted September 27, 2009 Posted September 27, 2009 Can someone help me please I cannot afford another year like last year. I am running 4 controllers with 49,650 lights. Total amp draw is 101 when everything is on. I have a 200 amp box. I noticed my furnace turning on and off with the music after the first night. Solution shut down furnace while running show. BUT I did not realize the damage it actually did to the furnace control board until after the fact. Also it took out my control board on my Hot Tub. Is there something I am doing wrong. Should I put up a temporary pole?
rwertz Posted September 27, 2009 Posted September 27, 2009 That doesn't sound good Bill. I'm sure a lot of people are running their service that hard without destroying other devices.Have you monitored the line voltage during your show? Maybe you have a bad connection somewhere on the main service coming in. It may be time to contact an electrician.You can try switching a load on and off and monitoring the line voltages. You would want to check between each 120V "leg" and ground and also across the 240V. A hair dryer usually presents a good 10 Amp load. Be sure to switch the load on and off on each 120V leg and note any major voltage changes (>= 5V).(I'm assuming you're in the states)
-klb- Posted September 27, 2009 Posted September 27, 2009 A weak neutral bond can be especially damaging to some kinds of equipment. Ideally check the voltages on both sides of neutral when changing the load. If the voltage on the other side from the load changes, you have a neutral bonding problem.So far, there are only two things I have experienced with LOR running. 1) The harmonics cause a transformer, or inductor (possibly in the line noise filter?) to buzz a bit, sometimes noticeably in sync with the music. 2) One garage remote receiver that gets a substantial reduction in reception range when the lights are running.
Bill Easterlin Posted September 27, 2009 Author Posted September 27, 2009 Thanks for the response, All connections were tight. I will check out the neutral tomorrow and see if there are any problems there. By the way I am from Lower Burrell Pa.thanks
rwertz Posted September 27, 2009 Posted September 27, 2009 Our meter base had a loose neutral connection from the factory. We never knew it until we started animating two years ago.I wasn't sure what was going on until I realized that the dining room lights got brighter when the microwave was running.
Max-Paul Posted September 28, 2009 Posted September 28, 2009 Looks like I am late to the party. I agree with both gents about the neutral might be the weak link in this problem. Please get back and let us know what you found. Just a thought, this loose connection can be the breaker panel, or out at the meter base or back at where your lines tap into the feeder lines. Or if you are like me, at the transformer.Good hunting.
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