Re: Something went Bad Wrong!

["Robert L Bass" <RobertLBass@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hmm.  A nail shorted one lead of the transformer secondary to one
lead of the sump pump.  When the sump kicked in you got 140 VAC?
There must have been something else wrong.

Aside from that, I don't see how the sump could send voltage when it
kicked in unless there was an open neutral.  All the residential sump
pumps I've seen have constant hot, neutral and ground connections.
When the float rises a switch is thrown, completing the circuit, but
even then the voltage on the neutral and ground wires should be ~0.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

==============================>
Bass Home Electronics
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
Sales & Tech Support 941-925-8650
Customer Service 941-232-0791
Fax 941-870-3252
==============================>


>I went to a customer yesterday about 5:00pm. He said the alarm
>system stopped working. I installed this system about 4 months ago
>from a takeover. He had a DSC system that was installed by a Larger
>Company. (With the Blue three letter logo). But since I like to
>upload and download I replaced the board. Had to run a few new wires
>because it seemed they had a 6 zone panel, but only 4 zones were
>used. This company loved to double up zones. I don't like that.
>Well, after arriving at his house, I checked the voltage on the AC
>terminals... it was at 0 volts. So I checked the transformer.
>Transformer was not putting out any voltage at all. So I replaced
>the unit. Panel still didn't work. I checked the voltage back at the
>panel and found 16.5 VAC. so it must be the board...I told him I
>would have to replace this board but thought it was strange that it
>didn't last very long. Well, I came back with the new board. Wired
>everything up and was getting ready to wire the AC wires to the
>terminals... Just as I grabbed one of the wires, I got a shock of my
>life. It held on to my hand like I have never felt before. It seemed
>like forever but I finally got away from it... I think I almost
>pissed my pants. After I came too, I grabbed my volt meter and
>checked to voltage. The meter read 140. I told the man what I found
>and he was kind of shocked... I asked him what it could be from and
>he didn't know. I asked if anything happened the same time that the
>alarm quit working. He said no.
>
>
>
>
>
> A long story short, the other alarm company ran the AC line from
> the garage where it is plugged in an outlet, (using 22/4 wire) all
> the way to the other side of the house then down to the basement.
> Well, I found after tracing the wire, it ran next to the 120 volt
> wire for the sump pump and there was a nail that was used to hold
> down the 110VAC wire. But the other installer also used that nail
> to hold the power wire down for the control panel. He must have
> pulled in through the nail because the insulation was rubbed off
> showing copper on both wires. When the sump pump kicks on, it sends
> voltage through the low voltage wire and it blew up the alarm
> panel. I guess I will not use other company's wires again. When I
> first arrived to bid the system, the wiring job looked nice...
> Man.. I was wrong.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> M
>
>