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Author Help with condo electric problem
vic

2006-04-29, 10:21 pm

I live in a condo that has a Federal Pacific circuit breaker box with
no main cut off.
I was installing a new exhaust fan which accidentally short circuited.

After this happened I went to the box to see if the circuit breaker had
tripped. It did not and I then realized all the power was off in the
apartment.
I shut off all the circuit breakers and then turned them on and still
no electricity.
Any theories as to what the problem may be???????
Thanks for your help!
Vic

RBM

2006-04-29, 11:21 pm

If all the electricity is off at the panel, you've tripped the main, which
should be located where the electric meters are


"vic" <victorvoul@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1146359828.868521.29540@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...
>I live in a condo that has a Federal Pacific circuit breaker box with
> no main cut off.
> I was installing a new exhaust fan which accidentally short circuited.
>
> After this happened I went to the box to see if the circuit breaker had
> tripped. It did not and I then realized all the power was off in the
> apartment.
> I shut off all the circuit breakers and then turned them on and still
> no electricity.
> Any theories as to what the problem may be???????
> Thanks for your help!
> Vic
>



Colbyt

2006-04-29, 11:21 pm


"vic" <victorvoul@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1146359828.868521.29540@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...
>I live in a condo that has a Federal Pacific circuit breaker box with
> no main cut off.
> I was installing a new exhaust fan which accidentally short circuited.
>
> After this happened I went to the box to see if the circuit breaker had
> tripped. It did not and I then realized all the power was off in the
> apartment.
> I shut off all the circuit breakers and then turned them on and still
> no electricity.
> Any theories as to what the problem may be???????
> Thanks for your help!
> Vic
>


There is a main cut off somewhere. In your case usually near where your
meter is. I find it hard to believe that you tripped a main with such a
small short but it is possible.

Hint: Find your last electric bill and then find the meters on the outside
of the building. The bill is to help you find the right meter and box if
they are not labeled by unit number. There will be a meter number on the
bill. There should also be a main breaker at this location.

For some of the newer condos you may have to call building support as both
the meters and the breakers are in a utility room.

--
Colbyt
One picture can be worth a 1000 words.
Post yours at www.ImageGenie.net for FREE.


gfretwell@aol.com

2006-04-29, 11:21 pm

On 29 Apr 2006 18:17:08 -0700, "vic" <victorvoul@gmail.com> wrote:

>I live in a condo that has a Federal Pacific circuit breaker box with
>no main cut off.
>I was installing a new exhaust fan which accidentally short circuited.
>
>After this happened I went to the box to see if the circuit breaker had
>tripped. It did not and I then realized all the power was off in the
>apartment.
>I shut off all the circuit breakers and then turned them on and still
>no electricity.
>Any theories as to what the problem may be???????
>Thanks for your help!
>Vic

FP breakers have a known problem of not tripping when they should
(CPSC has a report on it)
The other posters are probably right. The first breaker to trip is the
one protecting your feeder at the service panel.
HeyBub

2006-04-30, 11:21 am

vic wrote:
> I live in a condo that has a Federal Pacific circuit breaker box with
> no main cut off.
> I was installing a new exhaust fan which accidentally short circuited.
>
> After this happened I went to the box to see if the circuit breaker
> had tripped. It did not and I then realized all the power was off in
> the apartment.
> I shut off all the circuit breakers and then turned them on and still
> no electricity.
> Any theories as to what the problem may be???????
> Thanks for your help!
> Vic


You looked in the wrong box?


LinkBot





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