Floating Neutrals??

Floating Neutrals??

Have you ever been caught in a dispute between two (2) Electrical Contractors in conflict over the installation quality, method and operating performance of a Generator???

It's a difficult place to be???

What's going on if you record fluctuating voltages between 0Volts - 440Volts on single phase generator sub circuits???

What's at Stake???

  • YOUR CUSTOMER??
  • YOUR REPUTATION??
  • YOUR EGO??
  • A COMPENSATION CLAIM for significant damage to expensive Laboratory and Data Centre Equipment??

According to Contractor "A" the installation and performance of the Generator was SATISFACTORY.
According to Contractor "B" the installation and performance of the Generator FAILED.

So convinced was Contractor "A" that the installation and performance of the Generator was SATISFACTORY that he instructed his staff to supply and install a Data Logger to record site electrical metrics under load operation for a site meeting of Generator and Laboratory representatives to finalise the CONFLICT between the two??

As arbitrator and in preparation for the site meeting, I decided to attend the site early to check the Data Logger and installation for myself??

To my HORROR I discovered varying single (1) Phase circuit voltages from 0Volts - 440Volts were being recorded??????♂???♀???♂???♀?

A quick inspection of the installation revealed a Floating Neutral??????♂???♀???♂???♀?

Under this condition three (3) phase 440Volt balanced loads will be unaffected, however, the single (1) Phase 230V loads will be in serious trouble and subjected to significant circuit voltages from 0Volts Min - 440Volts Max??

With a "HEALTHY POWER SYSTEM" you can expect~;

  • Phase - Phase 440Volts
  • Phase - Earth 230Volts
  • Phase - Neutral 230Volts
  • Neutral - Earth <3Volts

With a "FLOATING NEUTRAL (UNHEALTHY) POWER SYSTEM" and subject to load, you can expect~;

  • Phase - Phase 440Volts
  • Phase - Earth 120Volts
  • Phase - Neutral 0Volts Min - 440Volts Max.
  • Neutral - Earth 110Volts

So, be careful with a Floating Neutral, it can KILL YOU, damage and destroy your equipment??

In the end, there was nothing for me to ARBITRATE, the results of the Data Logger sealed the fate of Contractor "A"??????♂???♀???♂???♀?

He was very lucky it only cost him his CUSTOMER, REPUTATION, EGO and a reasonable COMPENSATION CLAIM??????♂???♀???♂???♀?

Thankfully, no one was injured or KILLED??
So how important is the need to TEST - TEST then TEST AGAIN!????????

About Synergypro and the Author??

About Who, How and What makes a competent Electro-Technology Projects Estimator??

How Synergypro can help you??

Want a brief review and introduction to my book "Theory and Practice of Estimating Electro-Technology Projects"??

Want to order a copy of my book "Theory and Practice of Estimating Electro-Technology Projects"??

Want to order "Theory and Practice of Estimating Electro-Technology Projects" training??

Want to order my patented software and Trademark protected licence to use "My Quote Mate" to Practice the Theory of Estimating Electro-Technology Projects"

"Every Day is a School Day - With Experience the Daily Lesson"


要查看或添加评论,请登录

Doug Hogarth UHK的更多文章

  • Will you accept NO for an answer in 2025 ???

    Will you accept NO for an answer in 2025 ???

    Happy New Year and Welcome back to the Theory and Practice of Estimating Electro-Technology Projects?? Did you know??…

  • What is Design Estimate Warranty???

    What is Design Estimate Warranty???

    Merry Christmas and welcome back to the Theory and Practice of Estimating Electro-Technology Projects?? Now that we’ve…

  • What is Design Estimate Freedom???

    What is Design Estimate Freedom???

    Hi and Welcome back to the Theory and Practice of Estimating Electro-Technology Projects?? In previous articles we…

  • Customer Cabling Quality and Integrity – Who Cares?

    Customer Cabling Quality and Integrity – Who Cares?

    TITAB do!?? That’s the answer from “doers” in the industry?? Hi and Welcome back to the Theory and Practice of…

  • Preparation and Planning - the Broader Considerations

    Preparation and Planning - the Broader Considerations

    What else should you consider when Estimating Electro-Technology Projects ? As an Electro-Technology Estimator and…

  • "UNIONS ARE RUINING THE COUNTRY!" - NONSENSE!

    "UNIONS ARE RUINING THE COUNTRY!" - NONSENSE!

    Hi and Welcome back to the Theory and Practice of Estimating Electro - Technology Projects. In this LinkedIn Feature I…

    1 条评论
  • 'The Big Shiny Builder Syndrome'

    'The Big Shiny Builder Syndrome'

    "There is only one thing worse than losing money, that’s thinking you are making money when you are losing it" (Simon…

    2 条评论
  • Marketing

    Marketing

    Put the right product in the right place at the right time at the right price with the right promotion" (Kevin Weldon -…

  • Electrical Passive Fire Protection Infrastructures

    Electrical Passive Fire Protection Infrastructures

    "Australia’s building industry is gearing up for change as new regulations mean that passive fire safety systems are no…

  • Electric Vehicles (EV's) & Charging Infrastructures

    Electric Vehicles (EV's) & Charging Infrastructures

    "Electric vehicles (EV's) just like your mobile phone - only much heavier and with more speakers - both have…

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了