O.T. Underground electrical problem..

jm. · Jul 17, 2013

Been topic of discussion quit a lot lately. Have a 15 year old outbuilding on one of the places that is fed 220 by triplex aluminum wire. Wire is hot where it leaves the feed breaker but nothing on the other end. Not shorted to the point that it trips the breaker. Metal detector does not pick up the wire. Is there a device that I can feed each individual wire a little dc current and located the wire or even the break. ?Suggestions
Wire is about 15 inches down and not in conduit.

Mike M · Jul 17, 2013

There is something like that made to find the burried invisible fence for dogs. At least that's what I understand it to be ? I also remembered you use an AM radio to go along and find the break too.

jm. · Jul 17, 2013

You have refreshed my memory but just got to put the pieces together.

JMOR · Jul 17, 2013

I have had excellent results by disconnecting wires from power (most important!!!!) and connecting a small wire to lawn mower sparkplug wire, cranking the engine and tuning radio to 'no station'. The small pocket size radios have a somewhat directional antenna, so practice various orientations for best results. I usually hit within the width of a narrow shovel. If connection kills engine, I just wrap 8 or 10 turns around plug wire & couple by cap/inductive means & engine runs like it isn't there. This locates wire, but not point of failure.

Ray eidemiller · Jul 17, 2013

Get a trencher and put in a new wire.Probably nothing your going to be able to fix anyhow.

jm. · Jul 17, 2013

That would be a big help.. Thanks for the information. Have everything right there in the outbuilding to make that work.

David G · Jul 17, 2013

Talk to your REC, if you have one. The companies do not HAVE to help if it is private, but sometimes will help.

An electrician that does underground should have a locate also.

Keep breaker OFF until you resolve the issue. You are probably heating the ground and using a lot of electricity. The wire will turn into aluminum oxide if it gets wet, then will conduct to the earth.

JMOR · Jul 17, 2013

Even though it wasn't ideal, I did find one once in wet earth by seeing the steam coming up from the electrical heating of water/moist earth. Once seen, I could feel the heat walking over it!

Dick2 · Jul 17, 2013

Our electric company learned that AL wires started breaking after several years underground. Now they put all their cables inside PVC conduit, including copper wire. Just better that way.

jm. · Jul 17, 2013

You are probably right BUT we bought this place (Farm) this way and the line is certainly not going to be easy to replace. Goes UNDER one building as well as two blacktop areas. Expect that is what we will end up doing but going to get it checked out first. Really real big like as big as you finger wire and does not do anything but lights and door opener.

Frank 41 · Jul 17, 2013

My main feed into the 3 phase transformer pad blew the fuse twice. Rats were the problem the first time at the pad and could be fixed within the pad. The second time when they lite it with a new fuse, it was like a 10 guage double barrel going off under ground. They thought maybe some white rock worked under ground and got close enough to corrode the wire.

Your wire is probably shorting out before getting to the switchs. Don't you become part of the short.

jm. · Jul 17, 2013

Thanks , Have a plan and some professional help lined up for tomorrow.

Ray · Jul 17, 2013

I just did one that went 200 ft.Menards had the wire on sale,and we rented a trencher.If you have room you could go around the building and paved areas.

David G · Jul 17, 2013

A good electrician should be able to find the break, splice it and you are good to go.

This is a common problem, BTDT. You may even see a large savings in your electric bill.

TVB · Jul 17, 2013

It's called a pinpointer. It puts a pulse on the line that goes to ground at the fault. The pulse radiates out from the fault (picture the ripples from throwing a pebble on a pond). The sensor that picks up the signal has two probes usually marked red and black. Placing the probes in the ground the probe that picks up the signal first will be indicated. Moving the probes in the direction of the indicated probe in a football chain fashion until the indicator picks up the opposite probe then narrowing down the distance between probes until the fault is "pin pointed". The pinpinter we use is manufactured by H.J. Arnett. It sounds simple however sometimes it takes you right to the fault and sometimes it sends you on a wild goose chase to a ground rod or telephone splice or whatever.

O.T. Underground electrical problem..

jm.

Well-known Member

Mike M

Well-known Member

jm.

Well-known Member

JMOR

Well-known Member

Ray eidemiller

New User

jm.

Well-known Member

David G

Well-known Member

JMOR

Well-known Member

Dick2

Well-known Member

jm.

Well-known Member

Frank 41

Member

jm.

Well-known Member

Ray

Well-known Member

David G

Well-known Member

TVB

Member

Similar threads