Overheating Wire from City Meter back to Eskom power supply

[Angelojp22]

Good day everyone.

I have an issue and I have no idea where to start looking.

The neutral connection that runs from the city meter back to main supply suddenly started overheating yesterday.

We've have this connection for years and nothings ever happened like this.

Switched the DB board off and kept the meter on and the heat went away.

Switched the DB board back on and switch the geyser off but the wire kept getting hot again.

So not sure what could suddenly be causing it.
I have logged a ticket with COJ but some help in understanding what could be the problem would be appreciated.

Tx in advance!
Angelo

[GCE]

It will be a loose connection on the neutral - As soon as a load is being used then the connection will heat up , with reduce load it will cool.

Could just be the screw that needs to be tighten or a bad connection within the meter or C/Breaker

[Isetech]

Have you done a loop impedance test - L-E and L-N?

[Angelojp22]

I will try and tighten up everything and see if that helps at all.

[Angelojp22]

Have you done a loop impedance test - L-E and L-N?

No I haven't, I have a multimeter at home. are you able to let me know how to go about it and what reading I should be looking out for?

[Isetech]

Best you get an electrician.

No I haven't, I have a multimeter at home. are you able to let me know how to go about it and what reading I should be looking out for?

[Angelojp22]

Best you get an electrician.

probably best but if this test is done, what info would it give me? and how would that info tell me why that neutral wire is overheating?

[Derlyn]

probably best but if this test is done, what info would it give me? and how would that info tell me why that neutral wire is overheating?

A multimeter won't cut it.
A loop impedance tester is needed.
This is an instrument that normally only electricians possess, much like doctors and stethoscopes.
A loop impedance tester, tests the impedance of the conductor between your installation and the supply transformer.
Impedance can be defined to the layman as "resistance under load"

The neutral wire will overheat for the same reason an element, be it in a heater, kettle, oven, iron or geyser gets hot.
The resistance is higher than what it should be, so it uses power that creates heat.

Like Isetech said, better you make use of a qualified and registered electrician's services.
Just make sure they possess a loop impedance tester. Some of them don't.

Cheers

[Angelojp22]

A multimeter won't cut it.
A loop impedance tester is needed.
This is an instrument that normally only electricians possess, much like doctors and stethoscopes.
A loop impedance tester, tests the impedance of the conductor between your installation and the supply transformer.
Impedance can be defined to the layman as "resistance under load"

The neutral wire will overheat for the same reason an element, be it in a heater, kettle, oven, iron or geyser gets hot.
The resistance is higher than what it should be, so it uses power that creates heat.

Like Isetech said, better you make use of a qualified and registered electrician's services.
Just make sure they possess a loop impedance tester. Some of them don't.

Cheers

Thanx for the explanation... That makes a lot of sense.
Yeah, I YouTubed what it was and realised specialised equipment is needed.
I managed to localise the fault, it's on the circuit that controls the lounge and kitchen lights. Everything else is on, and the connection doesn't heat up but the minute I flip that CB back on, it starts to get hot again.
So at least I kind of know where the fault is more or less. So will have to get someone to have a look.
Thinking it might be the old fluorescent globe in the kitchen, it's been flickering heavily these past couple of days.