electrical tester revisited

[mike delaney]

I found it!!! I had what a few of you guys predicted. I had one leg of my service corroded in half, looks like the aluminum got hot then just corroded in half. Now I have to go back and seal all my test spots and repair the bad spot and HOPE I don't have any more problems. I was hoping the power company steered me right on the aluminum wire but I already have my doubts. The wire is less than 1 year old and already a major problem. As far as the tester I.m going to buy a new one because I borrowed two other tester and they read the same and mine read different. So Thanks for all your input that's what makes this forum such a great site. Thanks Mike

 

[DH in Carolina]

Before you chunk your electrical tester check the battery. Low battery will give crazy readings.

 

[Jon Hagen]

In my area of the north plains, I have never seen anything but alumimum direct bury wire used to run the individual underground feed.
If you have a pinhole in the insulation, I doubt any other metal will last much longer when water hits energized wire. Much of our underground aluminum has been underground for 30+ years.

The most common reason for a failed underground wire around here is that someone trenched in copper LP line across the electrical line and nicked the wire insulation.

About mid winter when the ground is frozen 4 ft deep your electric and propane use will go way up.
One leg of the electric feed will fail, and when you dig it up, one wire will be corroded off and the copper gas line will be a mass of corroded holes for 10 ft in either direction, because it was a perfect ground rod for the electricity leaking from the nicked underground wire.
BTDT, paid the bill. LOL.

 

[Dusty MI]

As cheep as PVC conduit is I don't under stand why when someone goes to the expense of having a trench dug they don't put PVC in. Even better yet I would go over size. The wire will pull easier and the day may come when you wish you could up the size of the panel so you can run a bigger air compressor, add a welder or what ever.

Dusty

 

[36 Coupe]

I ve seen a lot of problems with aluminum wire since 1958.It breaks and corroded often so I wont use it.Power co requires underground wire be run in a plastic pipe here.

 

[barnE]

Nothing but a heavy solenoid Wigginton tester.(wiggy) Cut my teeth on one. Dave

 

[buickanddeere]

I agree. No money saved with direct burial.

 

[Tony in SD]

Aluminum wire is just fine if installed properly. If you are in rocky soil then you must either put it in conduit or put a 6" layer of sand above and below the wire. If there is a nick the aluminum will fail sooner then copper. The difference is that you electric bill will go through the roof with copper. Aluminum will fail and force you to find the problem.

 

[mike delaney]

I see that now, if I continue to keep having problems I'm going to dig it up and put the other half in conduit with new wire. I ran half in conduit because it's under concrete. Thanks again to all of you Mike

 

[jeffcat]

Few weeks ago saw the aftermath of a Ditch Witch and 480 three under ground. Laugh your a-- off? Burns a pretty big hole in the bar!