All Forum Posts by: John Whittle

 Thats not true Nicholas.  The neutral does take the unbalanced current.  The way the transformer is set up.  If both hots have the same draw on them no current will go on the neutral wire.  

Two neutrals don't have to be loose for the above to happen.  The circuits with a good neutral even themselves out at the neutral bar.  Meaning current from one hot goes back through another circuit on the other phase but only to the point of evening the load.  The unbalanced portion goes back on the neutral.  So when you take away the main neutral.  The circuits even out through the other 

It would be the main neutral in the sub panel.  It could be in the house panel, meter or feed from the power company.  Since your problem is just in the garage.  I'd look at the sub and the feed from the main panel.  

A hair dryer will pull almost 15 amps on one hot. So it will show the problem. The neutral is supposed take away the unbalanced current.  If the main neutral is loose. That 15 amps tries to go back thru a neutral on another circuit thru another device and then back on a hot from another phase.  Thats what causes the crazy voltages.  Depending on the resistance of the loads.  One phase will drop the other goes higher. 

I'd see what happens when you run a hair dryer in the garage. I doubt its the halogens themselves.  Try the hair dryer on different outlets and check other outlets while its running if the voltage bounces like it does with the lights.  Time to get a real electrician that knows what to actually check.

 This isn't true.  Power doesn't back feed but loose neutrals cause one hot to over volt and one to under volt.  The bright lights and frying electronics are a classic loose neutral.  That little 240 volt 15 amp compressor probably doesn't even need a neutral.  I can't tell whats going on in your picture.  The tenant could of loosened the neutral or double tapped a neutral causing the problem but its not the load.

 Its not 200% of the main,  it goes by load calculation.  If an electrician told you that fire him.  The breakers can add up to 2000 amps on 100 amp panel as long as the calculated load doesn't reach 100 amps.  Unless you have electric everything or a large house 100 amp panel is fine.  These days an average kitchen needs about 4 circuits total.

Get a real electrician to do a load calc.  Sometimes we miss stuff but this is not something he should be calling "discovery".  He most likely just ran out of room for 5 circuits he didn't really need and he is too stupid or lazy to do what needs to be done.

He shouldn't need 5 additional circuits.  Not that it matters loads the same. Unless you have a 60 amp panel I'm sure this isn't going to put the load over the limit.  

If the panel can handle the load but not enough space or hard to find breakers.  You will need tandems or a sub-panel. 

It sounds like this electrician needs to go.

You do it from the inside.  Concrete blade runs about $20 cement $15 and then it just depends if you have an angle grinder and a truck to go get dirt.  The rest is labor.

Grind the crack with an angle grinder concrete blade.  Apply hydraulic-lock cement.  Of course check gutters down spouts and you should probably grade the area with more top soil.  Fixes most of them.

If forced air it has to be separate to each unit. 

The cheapest way would be electric baseboard heat and window units not ideal though. 

With an airhandler/furnace for each unit with ductwork your looking at 20k+. 

What I do is have them call me an hour before they want to come.  Lets me know they are serious.  I'll try and schedule 3 or so for around the same time. 

Lockbox method is risky.  Guys that want to steal copper will call on the for rent sign to make sure no ones going to be there.  Now they don't even have to break in, if they are smart enough to sound interested.

Specializing in investment property.  Walking the fine line between great work and affordable pricing.  

From service calls at the rentals. To tearing out boilers and putting back forced air heat and A/C in the rehabs.  Electric troubleshooting. To service upgrades and rewires. 

Cincinnati Service Solutions

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