Need an electrian's help

[grsthegreat]

I see this all the time with underground buried cable it has always been a damaged leg on wire run between both buildings. The 55v reading is a transisnt voltage. If uou disconnect all wires on garage/shop panel you will find no voltage on one wire.

There are companies that will locate broken line for you. Look in yellow pages for utility locator companies.

 

[budepps3760]

Just got back from the farm. I had the same low reading on one of the 2 buried wires coming into the building so that appears to be my problem. I will be having my 85 acres clear cut starting in a few months and so once they have finished tearing up the ground I will just run 2 new lines and bury them deep. The run from the power pole is only about 15 yards in distance. Those lines are at least 30 years old and so I can't really complain. Thanks for everyone's help with this.

 

[Xfaxman]

Glad you found the problem. :thumbsup:

 

[budepps3760]

Concerning the replacement wire. My tractor shed was once my father's commercial cabinet shop and I still have his 3 phase machines which I plan on using to build my cabinets in our house we are building next year on the farm. With that being said what gauge wire should I go back with and should it be stranded or solid? I will only need to run 2 pieces about 15 yards underground and its a straight shot up to the master panel. Looking at it Saturday it looks like maybe a 6 or 8 gauge stranded currently.

 

[crazyal]

What size breaker do you have in the main panel. That along with distance the wire will run will determine what size wire you will need. If you use copper it will be a smaller gauge than aluminum but cost more. I always put wire in conduit when it's going in the ground. Just cheap insurance against it getting damaged. Just make sure not to damage the insulation when sliding it into the conduit.

 

[buickanddeere]

bad connection go to the breaker and measure. turn the power off and clean contacts, wire and lug and try again. According what you measure there you will go to the buss or welder, and don't forget the neutral, good luck

Neutral ? What neutral with a welder ?