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Brad2011 · Dec 20, 2011, 09:15 AM

I'm getting just enough electricity to run a few bulbs. When I plug in an electric heater there is not enough to run it, but the other lights become brighter, why? When I checked the wires coming into the house they both read fine, but when I run the heater or any other appliance with a high draw I have no juice and the breaker reads at half. I have even turned every breaker off and tried to run just one at a time this does not change the shortage. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

donf · Dec 20, 2011, 10:29 AM

Help me, please.

How are you testing the circuits?

Are you using a meter? When you say that the breaker reads half,are you speaking of a 240 volt double breaker only reading 120 volts or a 120 volt breaker only reading 60 volts.

Call your power company and have them verify the voltage being received at the meter base. Tell them to send a technician.

Brad2011 · Dec 20, 2011, 11:32 AM

120 reads 60, yes I'm using a meter.

Thanks, I will call the power company.

stanfortyman · Dec 20, 2011, 01:33 PM

You have an open service neutral. This can be on the utility side or in your meter pan or panel. It is most likely a problem with the utility though.

Brad2011 · Dec 21, 2011, 05:54 AM

Thank You for your reply. I was looking for a direct answer and got it. What is an open service neutral, just curious.

Thanks again

donf · Dec 21, 2011, 09:29 AM

Brad,

Think of the "Old West Court System". A judge would be assigned a territory to preside over. He would create a "Circuit" that would allow him to travel to each venue in the territory and then return home.

The return home is the salient part.

An Electrical Circuit is the same concept. The electrical power travels from the ungrounded terminal point, through the circuit and back to the transformer via the "Neutral" conductor.

An "Open Service Neutral" means that there is a break in the electrical service system that is preventing a full 120 volts to flow through an ungrounded conductor and back through the Neutral.

For example, "Neutral"is the zero point (0) between each of the 120 Volt conductors.

But suppose that there is a break in the transformer's wiring which cause Neutral to be only 60 volts from one of the poles. You would get 60 Volts on one pole and 20 Volts on the other.

Brad2011 · Dec 21, 2011, 10:52 AM

Thanks Don, I appreciate the help.