REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

SupraTTturbo2jz · 07-19-2012, 01:26 AM

hello, has anyone here been experiencing power outages here and there throughout their household? Ever since BC hydro installed the smart meter for my home, the power in parts of the house would shut off from time to time. The power in my home has been perfectly fine for 15+ years. Its been a month or two since the installation and the kitchen, living room would shut off. I called BC hydro last night and explained the situation. They said there is no way that it is their fault and I cannot prove it. The techs they send out are contracted installers and have absolutely no electrical experience whatsoever. The tech told me himself the day he was installing.

The "side lugs and wiring" is damaged when they sent a tech out this morning to my home and checked the smart meter. When they pulled the smart meter off, there was a flash of sparks. Should they not be shutting off all power before attempting that? I am really stuck and repairing is very expensive. I also searched and many more people have had similar issues ever since the installment of smart meters. Few have had sparks and fires. Thanks in advance. Any advice would greatly be appreciated guys.

bloodline129 · 07-19-2012, 01:41 AM

Bc hydro, Icbc, aircare, liquer stores = government owned. Getting on the winning side of that corruption is improbable... Sorry got no other advice then phoning them and keep complaining when the outages happen... If u lucky u might encounter a skilled tech. And for your answer yes the power supply for the meter should have been turned off. No skilled tech will go play with live wires.

Matlock · 07-19-2012, 04:47 AM

I'm having trouble trying to think of why only parts of your house would turn off if the problem is only at the meter. It would make more sense if it were the entire house...

Does the problem only occur in specific areas? Are some areas of your house completely unaffected?

Is it a really old house?

Gnomes · 07-19-2012, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloodline129

Bc hydro, Icbc, aircare, liquer stores = government owned. Getting on the winning side of that corruption is improbable... Sorry got no other advice then phoning them and keep complaining when the outages happen... If u lucky u might encounter a skilled tech. And for your answer yes the power supply for the meter should have been turned off. No skilled tech will go play with live wires.

I thought BC hydro was sold off

SupraTTturbo2jz · 07-19-2012, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matlock

I'm having trouble trying to think of why only parts of your house would turn off if the problem is only at the meter. It would make more sense if it were the entire house...

Does the problem only occur in specific areas? Are some areas of your house completely unaffected?

Is it a really old house?

yes, specific areas of the house, so far the kitchen, living room, and another room, upstairs 1 room.

the damage was said to be the "left lugs and wiring" i believe those are the sockets at the meter when you take it off right? I know how to repair it, just not sure how to take off the meter and if BC hydro allows self service. -_-

not sure how old my house is but i'd say 15+yrs. everything was completely fine for years up until the installed the new meter...it seems like a coincidence that it would happen at the same timing but due to others having same issues, i can't really say..at this point im trying to search for a affordable electrician.

Matlock · 07-19-2012, 05:21 AM

Yes, "left lugs and wiring" would be right behind the meter. The meter is easy to take off, except BC hydro put their own blue seal on it to check if anyone has tampered with it. You're usually not supposed to tamper with their seals.

For our 120/240v home services we have 3 wires into the meter connected to hydro and 3 wires out of the meter to the house. 2 phases and 1 neutral. Only the 2 phases are connected to the meter. (4 wires) There probably is some sort of connection issue with one of those phases which affects the entire half of your panel with all of the breakers attached to that phase.

It could be the previous electrician's fault. Maybe they didn't tighten the connection enough. If they used aluminium wires to go from the meter to the house, maybe they didn't use penetrox. Then BC Hydro came along and disturbed the meter base which in turn made your power go on and off.

It could also be a faulty meter.

Hard to say.

The only hassle will be getting an electrician to work on the meter and then having the thing re-sealed by BC Hydro.

Try talking to hydro to see if they can do anything for free since it was fine before they came along.