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  #1  
Old 10/7/09, 11:37 PM
Joseph Tribuzio's Avatar
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Default Disturbing news from my HVAC guy

An HVAC tech was at my mothers home doing a routine maintenance when his elbow brushed against the ac line. He received a shock and started to investigate. He found the outer casing of the AC was reading 105 VOLTS????

after removing everything giving a load he still could not find out why? but he replaces a single pole lennox a the shut off with a double pole. That seemed to mostly fix the problem. There is still some minor voltage , i think he said 15volts. We dont know why the breaker did not trip. Obviously one of the legs is making contact with something it shouldnt.

Has anyone encountered a similar situation? This guy and another veteran of HVAC were baffled.




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  #2  
Old 10/7/09, 11:41 PM
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Default Re: Disturbing news from my HVAC guy

Does this compressor have a heater?



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  #3  
Old 10/7/09, 11:42 PM
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Default Re: Disturbing news from my HVAC guy

Probably leakage from a conductor in the compressor to the case along with poor bonding of the case to ground. I would also verify proper connections in the panel for this circuits equipment ground.



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  #4  
Old 10/7/09, 11:51 PM
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Joseph Tribuzio Joseph Tribuzio is offline
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Default Re: Disturbing news from my HVAC guy

Quote:
Originally Posted by dedwards View Post
Does this compressor have a heater?
nope, just a outdoor ac unit.




Joseph Tribuzio 708 456 1423
Tribuzio Home Inspection Services Inc.
Entitiy Lic# 451.000692
ELMWOOD PARK, ILLINOIS
www.thishomeinspector.com
www.thischicago.com
ID# NACHI07062507
IL Lic#450.003128
Radon lic# RNIT2008216
Home Inspector Pro Software
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  #5  
Old 10/7/09, 11:53 PM
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Joseph Tribuzio Joseph Tribuzio is offline
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Default Re: Disturbing news from my HVAC guy

Quote:
Originally Posted by bking View Post
Probably leakage from a conductor in the compressor to the case along with poor bonding of the case to ground. I would also verify proper connections in the panel for this circuits equipment ground.
The panel is a Wadsworth, I haven't been there to look it over but im still puzzled why it would not trip?




Joseph Tribuzio 708 456 1423
Tribuzio Home Inspection Services Inc.
Entitiy Lic# 451.000692
ELMWOOD PARK, ILLINOIS
www.thishomeinspector.com
www.thischicago.com
ID# NACHI07062507
IL Lic#450.003128
Radon lic# RNIT2008216
Home Inspector Pro Software
HIP Web Hosting

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  #6  
Old 10/7/09, 11:57 PM
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Default Re: Disturbing news from my HVAC guy

Quote:
Originally Posted by jtribuzio View Post
The panel is a Wadsworth, I haven't been there to look it over but im still puzzled why it would not trip?
Plastic condensor pad?



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  #7  
Old 10/8/09, 12:01 AM
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Default Re: Disturbing news from my HVAC guy

Quote:
Originally Posted by jtribuzio View Post
The panel is a Wadsworth, I haven't been there to look it over but im still puzzled why it would not trip?
Voltage caused by leakage can have very little current capability available but it sounds like a bad breaker trip level could be present also..

Ever notice how a 14/3 or 12/3 cable will have 30-40 volts on the red wire when it is not connected to anything? This is "crosstalk" or simply leakage along the length of the cable from the black wire induced into the red wire. If you put even a very small load on that stray voltage it will disappear.



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  #8  
Old 10/8/09, 12:28 AM
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Default Re: Disturbing news from my HVAC guy

Andrew, YEAH it is on a plastic pad.
Bruce, I'm going to take a closer look at that breaker and the grounding/bonding.
The crosstalk sounds like a factor too.




Joseph Tribuzio 708 456 1423
Tribuzio Home Inspection Services Inc.
Entitiy Lic# 451.000692
ELMWOOD PARK, ILLINOIS
www.thishomeinspector.com
www.thischicago.com
ID# NACHI07062507
IL Lic#450.003128
Radon lic# RNIT2008216
Home Inspector Pro Software
HIP Web Hosting

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  #9  
Old 10/8/09, 8:23 AM
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Default Re: Disturbing news from my HVAC guy

Check the ground rod also
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  #10  
Old 10/8/09, 8:37 AM
Ronald l. Cook Ronald l. Cook is offline
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Default Re: Disturbing news from my HVAC guy

Check to see if the capaciter is not starting to short out.
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