What's up with that? Down there a few days ago changing furnace filters and adding softener salt didn't hear nothing. Down there again today and the damn thing is humming? Why all the sudden will one start humming for no apparent reason?
It's a 100amp coming in, 60amps going to the garage, probably 25 other breakers ranging from 15 to 30amps in box, maybe I'm running out? Although I'd expect the breaker up top to trip if so.
Does upgrading to 200amp service include new breaker box with 200amp fuse, new breakers, new service feed wire from the poll? Or can you get away with a 200amp fuse that fits the box?
Any thoughts on why it might be buzzing?
My house gonna burn down cause of it? Go easy on me, my electrical knowledge is about the equivalent to wiring outlets, lights, ceiling fans, adding/wiring up breakers and that about it Lol...
Thank you!
Brent
Mine was installed over 30 years ago as part of a renovation. Square-D, "QO". Aluminium wire to it, professionally done with the correct alloy from the local utility.
Hum? Yep. Got that. Day-One to the present day, and "seasonal".
However..it turned out to be a small 24 VAC control transformer installed in the bottom of the service entrance loadcenter, not obvious it was even THERE behind all the wires.
It powers the electric baseboard heat thermostats (many)...and.. relay coils on a portion of those that control more baseboard heaters than the main contacts are rated for. Power-OFF the heat circuits? As I do spring and fall to prevent heat & (separate) AC getting into an expensive bun-fight. No more hum.
Meanwhile.. thirty-plus years since renovation install (1980's) , the Aluminium feed connections have never needed "tightening".
A PREVIOUS alloy of Aluminium almost certainly would have needed that - better-yet, REPLACED, and clear back to the Powerco transformer.
On which score.. three prior properties, I have paid extra to have the Powerco run COPPER. A mere $80, one go, pull old, convert from overhead to underground ..but..but..Powerco had just marched a line of tall 130 kV towers down the other side of the street, so were being inordinately cooperative.
Around $800 "extra" next go, new construction, also underground. I'd guess $5,000 if I were to do it at today's Copper prices on this home - underground from the outset. So long as the Aluminium continues to behave well, no need. I just do NOT use it on anything departing the panel. Ever.
The tires and plywood? Too many sins of me own to cast a stone, but.. NONE of that is really a Harry Homeowner task. One also needs long years of training & habituation to how to move around live circuits in general. One hand in the pocket, what type of gloves and other safety gear, and a whole lot more. Holes & poles linemen, telco outside plant folk, TO Utility Military Engineers, have this set of "ways" in ingrained, life-saving HABIT at the "muscle memory" level. Joe Average does not have that automagical behaviour pattern set.
Huge risk for him to hope he can learn it "OJT or
fry" on the one job.
Surely hope it is as simple as a thermostat/doorbell/HVAC/heat/hot water - wotever- relay "control" transformer in your own case as well.
If not, "from a safe distance", aim a
non-contact thermal-sensing gun at the panel. Cheap ones are good enough.
Hot spots WILL exist, but should not be dramatic. Licensed Master Electrician - "accept no substitutes" - can sort a problem if there is one.
2CW