Re: about grounding values… An Unbelievable Discovery!!!!!

[George Handley]

Unbelievable news XTensioneers! (At least that's what I'm saying now!)

First, I can't thank enough Michael, James, Warren, John David, Brian and Clark for their contributions on this subject today. I have been soundly reeducated on where, it appears, many, if not all of my X10 problems have originated, and that I have been fighting for four years. Only time will tell.

But for all you Newbies out there, here is the soundest X10 advice I've received in the 14 some years I've been following this list:

"George,

I am pretty sure that you need only call your local power company engineering department and 
explain that you think you have a power problem…  They have the instruments to so static tests
for grounding and other kinds of basic things, and can leave a recorder set up to capture a log.

It was some years ago that I invited them here to test my ground system.
Three engineers came out !  Didn't cost me anything.  Solved the problem with the suggestion
of building a 'ground plane' of many ground rods, all running to a 'Mecca Plate' in the well house.
They even gave me some documents that they use in their internal training, and these have
been very useful over time.

I don't think that they will take the time to help you troubleshoot individual device problems,
but you can at least get a good reading on the condition of your power and ground.

michael"

EVERYBODY SHOULD DO THIS!!

It was 9:30 PM tonight before my KCP&L engineer showed up, and guess what we discovered in their utility pedestal two houses down?

Let me give you a clue. He was here 1.5 hours. He had to use big bolt cutters to cut off the lock as they no longer use them… for years. This box, he determined, hadn't been opened for 27 some years! In it, not only were my three main wires loose, requiring 2-3 complete rachet turns of his 3/4" tool to get them so, we discovered that my ground wire was not even connected to the terminal block!

Further, another neighbor's feed was just as loose, but also the feed terminals from the transformer down the street to this pedestal were just as loose! When I came back in my wife commented that everything in the house was blinking as all this transpired. :-)

Let me tell you I'm grinning like a Cheshire Cat right now, and need some time to see just what, if anything, this revelation resolves. It sure couldn't hurt!

Thanks to all of you for really coming to the plate,

George

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