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Scary stuff this morning.

There was some really weird things going on in the house I was inspecting this morning. Lights were flickering. The bathroom light became brighter when I turned on the wall heater, the hall lights dimmed. When the heat pump kicked on, all the lights went bright for a second.

Inside the panel there were a few melted wires, but probably from a water heater fuse blowing.

I started to trace the ground wire and went into the crawlspace where it was connected to a water line. I could see the clamp was loose and as I went to get close to shoot a photo, I bumped the ground and a big arc shot out at the connection.

I just about messed my pants.

Here's the photos...

Posted by Jack Feldmann on 03/19/2009 05:42 PM

Comments (13)

shocking experience, inspections are just a waste of money dont bother

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13 Comments on Scary stuff this morning.

MAR

That situation is scary Jack! That water ground is not supposed to be a current carrying conductor, only a safety ground. Situations like that have led to catastrophes for plumbers that inadvertently open a copper pipe that unbeknown to them was carrying electrical an current. A recipe for disaster!

For those who don't know... what was the cause of the problem?

Well, first of all I can't be sure, since I wasn't there to trouble shoot or do the repair. My guess is there is a problem with a neutral wire somewhere, either in the panel, the meter base, or maybe in some mucked up wiring someone did. It might even be a problem with the transformer feeding the house.

An electrician will need to come out and see what they find, but may have to get the utility company involved too.

The house is vacant. When I stopped by the listing agent's office to return the key, I told them there was a serious electrical problem that needed attention NOW. Who knows if they will act on it. It's a 60+ year old house with the original 100 amp fuse panel feed by the old style cloth wire weather-head. It needs a lot of electrical work anyway.

Hi: Jack great finded on the grounding wire on that house. I am gald you are OK. I always test the grounding wire with my clamp-on multimeter for current and continuity. At one home some genus did this here take a look. They taped the pipe and then placed the grounding clamp on top of the tape!

It might actually be a good thing it is NOT properly connected if there is actually that much current going to ground. Hopefully someone figures out what is causing it before they just go ahead and connect it----might drive the earthworms crazy:)

MAR

Vacant house, needs extensive electrical upgrade, buyers market in a bad economy. My guess is at best the owners get one of their friends who is an "electrician" to come over and does the old "just fix it so I can get rid of it" stage. I will keep my fingers crossed for the new buyers that no serious fires start.

Charles - that ground wire is completing, or helping to complete the circuit back to the transformer. This is happening because there is a problem with the neutral wire - possibly a high resistance connection, or possibly a disconnected neutral. Things were sparking and dimming because the ground wire was loose. If it was completely disonnected... that would be really bad.

MAR

Fascinating! Makes you wonder if the entire plumbing system was active with current.

Richard

HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC

MAR

'Sounds' like a neutral problem as stated above. This IS dangerous. This COULD KILL you.

Like holding the white wire with one hand and completing the circuit with your other hand.

Yes the current is trying to get back to the power company via the water lines.

That is why the clamp must be attached within 5' feet of entering the structure.

MAR

Nice catch Jack, did you get shocked. Maybe it was there way of killing bacteria in the water :-)

By the way could someone tell me how to get my picture like the rest of you guy's in my replies to post?

APR

Mike- click here. http://activerain.com/mikeschulz/edit. To the right, it shows where to add a photo. (Upload Picture). You're welcome. :)

My picture is there. I emailed active rain and they said you have to have 10,000 points before your picture will show up. Sounds like a crock to me...........

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