Re: Something went Bad Wrong!

[Frank Olson <use_the_email_links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Matthew Stanley wrote:
> 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.


I feel for you, bro.  I recently had to replace a fire alarm panel and
communicator that wound up fried because the customer's tenant decided
to "hot wire" a 220 volt ironing machine through the building's "common
area" breaker box.  Strange thing is that we had 60 volts on the neutral
side and 240 on the hot.  Go figure!