Another Question for an Electrician

[Analog]

Originally posted by: dudleydocker
<<"This is worsened by the fact the utility's transformer feeding your house is very near full load rating.">>

How can you determine this?

find out the KVA rating of the xfmr, and then have the current draw measured with an average number of lights and appliances working. If it is near capacity, then it needs upgrading, or the conductors must be sized bigger for the feeder. Also, a defective or aged transformer could be the problem. Does it make a loud buzzing? Does it get hot? If it is up on a power pole, don't go up there and check - please!

 

[dudleydocker]

thought you meant the thing on the utility pole in the backyard! it looks like it's a hundred years old. plus i remember last summer we lost power because one upstream of us got fried by a squirrel!

thanks for all the replies everyone. i'm gonna call Com Ed (electric utility for Chicago) and see if they will come out and check on things. now that i think about it the line to my house seems to be drooping pretty low. maybe they'll fix that too!