Random crap with Uno.

[Unorthodox]

Hot Diggity Dawgs!!   How did the Dawgs turn out?  Make mine with chili and cheese... 

Chili over the fire?

I got to reading the ingredients on the Bar S hot dogs the kids were eating that have made me sick for years...

Yeah, more corn filler.  I'm thinking I've had a huge BT corn problem for a long time. 

[Buster's Uncle]

Uno, this sounds like something you just might have useful feedback/advice on as a practicing engineer...

The power company did something to our meter Friday, and when the power came back on after five hours, the stove doesn't work, the hot water heater doesn't work, and the dishwasher isn't heating it's own water at all - every large appliance with a major heating element, save we haven't tested the central air yet.

Momma's head is naturally in danger of exploding - and I dread pointing out that we need to test the heat pump, 'cause I don't want to lose her.  A call went in to Boss Duke complaining about the stove/oven Friday afternoon when we only knew about that - it is drawing power, all breakers have been checked, but only the clock/timer seems to work.

Any thoughts, based on that?

[E_T]

Uno, this sounds like something you just might have useful feedback/advice on as a practicing engineer...

The power company did something to our meter Friday, and when the power came back on after five hours, the stove doesn't work, the hot water heater doesn't work, and the dishwasher isn't heating it's own water at all - every large appliance with a major heating element, save we haven't tested the central air yet.

Momma's head is naturally in danger of exploding - and I dread pointing out that we need to test the heat pump, 'cause I don't want to lose her.  A call went in to Boss Duke complaining about the stove/oven Friday afternoon when we only knew about that - it is drawing power, all breakers have been checked, but only the clock/timer seems to work.

Any thoughts, based on that?

You are only getting one of the two phases that come into the house.  The Large appliances that you have are all two Phase things and need both active phases to work.

Just to be clear, the lines on the power pole are one to three phases.  Your transformer(s) feed off and distributes the different phases to help balance the load.  Your normal outlet is one phase (and in a properly load distributed house, the two phases get balanced for the different circuit breakers).  So, NORMALLY, if you have only one of two phases present in your two phase house, 1/2 of the lights and outlets won't work.  As well as all of your two phase things (although, some things might partly work, like an AC unit, the air handler might have a single phase motor, but the compressor and outside fan will both be two phase and not work).

they need to fix it...

[Buster's Uncle]

I think that's very good news, because that ought to be external, all on their end, and we shouldn't have to have a bunch of strangers in the house fixing and/or replacing things, let alone the bureaucratic nightmare of making Boss Duke take responsibility for breaking our stuff.  -I told Momma this morning that the heating element commonality thing ought to make it an easy diagnosis...

The meter work was specifically something to do with load distribution, though I thought that was peak-draw/brownout stuff.  So, in English, the 220 lines aren't working right?

I didn't know you were an electrician.  Thanks.

[E_T]

Also reset and re-energize your main outside breaker (the one that is outside, next to the power company meter box).  It might have a contactor going bad and when the power was off and then re-applied, the one phase of the two phase breaker might be not getting power through.  Or if it's older, it would have fuses that one might have gotten a bad connection or gone bad (and not shown a problem until no juice flow was present...)

If the problem is in your main breaker, that is beyond what the power company can fix and you would need an electrician to fix if for you (as it is after the point of the power company's service, which ends at their meter box).

[Unorthodox]

Ditto.  Double check your main breaker outside and the three BIG fuses there if it's an older home (which I'm led to believe it is). 

Beyond that, I'd summon the electrician as electricity and I have a rather notorious history. 

[Buster's Uncle]

Boss Duke broke it, Boss Duke is going to fix it, if it comes to that.

1969 wiring.  So try toggling the main breaker, huh?

[E_T]

yes, wouldn't hurt...

[Unorthodox]

Yeah, the outside main.  Sometimes that fuse box is locked for the random peon though.  It might be the power company's domain.  Kinda depends on your local setup. 

[Buster's Uncle]

I think there is some kind of pipe-tie-ish plastic seal I shouldn't break - at least there is on something I saw Friday among those boxes when we checked to sub-mains.

I've left Momma a terse note to be sure she doesn't miss it when she gets home from church soon - it would be impolitic to act on my own; her house...

[Unorthodox]

Yeah, if it's sealed, I'd summon the proper authorities otherwise they can make you pay even if you just cut it to have a looksee.  But toggling the knife switch doesn't hurt anything. 

I've seen this same problem about 5 times over the last year, though.  Every time has been a critter getting into the box.  Either at the main, or out at the 'street'. 

(cat, squirrel, spider, bird, spider)  edit:  I was keeping a running 'it swallowed a fly' joke going for a while

In your particular situation, though, fuse or human error is more likely. 

[Buster's Uncle]

Probably.  We have all those critters around, but one hell of a coincidence, if so...

[Buster's Uncle]

Good news!  I walked around to check, and the Main is where we can get at it -the seals are on the meter and load suppressor thingy- so now I'm only waiting for Momma to come home and gimme the high sign before she has to spend time on the phone...

[E_T]

Knew it, shouldn't have to wait, just open it, look and if just simple breaker, cycle and check to see if things are working correctly...

[Buster's Uncle]

I'm not in an all-fired hurry to have to reboot, either...  Starting to wonder if I missed her, or she's stayed for preaching, Buster's Daddy being the preacher...

Think I'll go lay down while I wait...