Large phantom loads from residential water supply systems [RE-wrenches]

[Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar]

Of course he should be turning off the breakers one by one and observing
what happens as he does.  An electric water heater that is on would cause
that meter spin "vigorously" even with every other load in the house off. 
1,500-2,500 kWh's is by no way an indication of abnormal conditions for an
all electric house with no well.  Are these meters measuring all the
electricity for the house and several barns/outbuildings?  Any customer
owned dusk to dawn nightlights?

Pin hole leaks in the piping not the well casing would cause the pump to
cycle. Right?  Saturated/leaking pressure tanks also cause pump cycling. Bad
or no foot valve combined with no check valve on the surface can increase
cycling.

A leaking (even barely dripping) hot water tap can have staggering effects
on the monthly kWh usage.

Current on the pipes that isn't causing some real havoc elsewhere?  That's a
new one to me but that doesn't mean it can't be common elsewhere and have no
advice on that.  I once was called to fix an electrified propane tank when
the guy from the company was shocked while filling it.  Turns out someone
had changed the water heater element and reversed the ground and one of the
hot legs at the water heater.  That ground was bonded to the propane line
coming into the house.  Fixed that and the problem went away no to mention
he had a lot more hot water after that.

Hope that helped at least a little.

Travis


----------
>From: "Windy Dankoff, Dankoff Solar" <windy at dankoffsolar.com>
>To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>Subject: Large phantom loads from residential water supply systems [RE-wrenches]
>Date: Tue, Jan 29, 2002, 2:41 PM
>

>Wrenches,
>
>I received this from one of our dealers. Can anyone help?
>
>-- Windy
>
>
>>Dear Windy,
>>
>>    The following is a bit aside of your main game, but I think you 
>>have the experience/knolwledge needed. The issue is excessive 
>>electrical use in rural homes. In recent audits I've come across 
>>three with monthly use of 1,500-2,500 kWh. When I turn off all loads 
>>the meter still spins vigoursly, and there is current on the pipes, 
>>strongest around the well.
>>    Talking to electricians about it has so far come up with: single 
>>insulated pumps with insulation flaws arc to the well casing through 
>>minerals, sometimes 'welding' the pump to the casing. Faulty 
>>pressure switches cycle the pump--this would increase use, but not 
>>put current on the pipes. A pin hole leak in the well casing drops 
>>pressure, causing cycling.
>>    A non-well cause can be a corroded annode in an electric hot 
>>water tank that touches an element.
>>    In your considerable experience what other things might be 
>>happening? There are hundreds of thousands of wells in Wisconsin, 
>>say 700,000. If 1% are faulty, burning 1,000 extra kWh/mo., that's 
>>84 million kWh a year, about $6 million dollars, plus magnetic 
>>fields and 'stray voltage' and, I suspect, speedier corrosion, too.
>>    I'm trying to get a feel for the issue. Once that's in hand I'll 
>>suggest to one of the state bureacracies that it be looked at 
>>systematically and a piece be written that auditors, electricians, 
>>well/pump people, and householders can use to figure out and fix the 
>>problems.
>>
>>Regards,
>>Bill Hurrle
>
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