Any thoughts please.... flickering supply

[sythai]

Evening all...


Customer has flickering lights and seems to get worst when airsource heat pump is fired up.

Have checked all connnections are tight, tails etc, all ok ?

Could it be the incoming supply maybe, it's at the end of the line and overhead or am I missing something ?

Sy

 

[Guest123]

Well those heat pumps use a lot of juice, and as you are at the end of line, volt drop may be an issue.

Have you measured the voltage at the light fittings when the pump is running???

 

[telectrix]

had similar problem with a client. fluorescent lights in his offices were flickering. turned out he was running on 205 volts. only solution was a new supply from new tranny at nearest pole. cost him a bomb

 

[sythai]

Checked supply voltage coming in and it was a constant 233v.... but got to pop back next week, so will take a volt reading at lights and see what I get.

Thank u Sy

 

[Guest123]

Make sure you get some load on the install when you test it.

 

[chris gray]

id be tempted to pop next door but two and ask if theyve had any issues with their supply?

 

[sythai]

Make sure you get some load on the install when you test it.

will do thank u
​

 

[davelerave]

it's either a supply issue or a problem at the DB

 

[mogga]

end of line big load probably check voltage at lights with load on

 

[sythai]

Almost sure it will be a supply issue.

If so what do the DNO then normally do to cure this ?

Thanku,

Sy

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Hi sythai,
Have you checked the fuse at the head?......I've had a few of these where the fuse/contacts overheat and discolours and softens the contacts.....bad contact and inconsistent supply the result.It would be apparent under load as the fuse holder will get noticably warm.....apologies if this is in egg sucking territory.

 

[davelerave]

Hi sythai,
Have you checked the fuse at the head?......I've had a few of these where the fuse/contacts overheat and discolours and softens the contacts.....bad contact and inconsistent supply the result.It would be apparent under load as the fuse holder will get noticably warm.....apologies if this is in egg sucking territory.

ah- over here that's part of the supply

 

[mogga]

I susspect DNo will do SFA as when theres no heavy load your getting 233v they may advise reducing the load or moving to civilisation

 

[steamboatwilly]

Saw this a while back (had been happening for months)...turned out to be a loose neutral connection on the supply into the meter or a Henley (I wasn't there to see exactly what). DNO call out, free of charge fix.

 

[sythai]

Can imagine they will try and deny all knowledge.....

Henleys, tails all good and tight that was my first thought loose neutral. Main fuse looked in good nick and wasn't getting warm, but might consider swapping for a new one which my kind friend at the DNO has given a few of (luckily someone has already cut the seals)

 

[chris gray]

let me reiterate what i previously said: it could be worth having a word with a few of their nieghbours and ask wether theyre having any issues? youd be suprised what ppl get use to and ignore.

 

[sythai]

Will do Chris thank u, bit more evidence to support this case if DNO aren't going to be to helpful.... will let you know how I get on

 

[sythai]

Flickering ended up full on disco lights in the end..... and then supply died!

Got DNO out and was neutral fault somewhere down the line.

I can stop worrying now, thanks for all you help,

Sy

 

[nickblake]

yes had the same yesterday dam neutrals didnt find it till we tried to boil the kettle , DNO still havent traced the fault its a biggy

 

[telectrix]

on my problem, they put in a new supply cost £15000 yes 15K, and the customer dug the trench from the pole himself!

 

[chris gray]

had any of the neighbours had any issues prior?

 

[sythai]

Chris.... yes eventually found out yesterday that couple of people down the lane also had probs. Wish I'd known this on Thursday evening before my 1.5 hour round trip through rush hour traffic, stress !! I just couldnt leave it, regular customer with young baby, right out in the sticks etc..... and I didnt get paid/charge for it, thats customer service for you

 

[hopkins85]

At the end of the day I would of still billed them.
I had a similar problem. What I did was made up a temp socket wired straight into supply. Put megger on volts setting in one socket and plugged kettle into other socket. Volts dropped big time.

DNO supply fault in the road.