How to Troubleshoot Rare Electrical Wiring Issues in Older Commercial Buildings

Working with electrical wiring in older commercial buildings can be challenging due to the wide range of issues that can arise over time. As a technician, being able to efficiently troubleshoot and resolve rare electrical problems requires expertise and experience. Here is an in-depth guide on how to effectively troubleshoot unusual electrical wiring issues in older commercial structures:

Identifying the Issue

The first step is to clearly identify the specific problem. Here are some tips on how to do this:

• Talk to occupants to understand what they are experiencing. Get details on the types of electrical malfunctions, when they occur, which outlets/lights are impacted. This provides clues on where to start investigating.

• Visually inspect wiring, circuits, breaker panels, junction boxes, and outlets. Look for signs of damage, corrosion, modifications, outdated components, etc.

• Use testing equipment like multimeters to check voltage/amperage and find irregular readings that indicate faults.

• Isolate the problem area based on tenant complaints and testing. Reproduce the issue by turning specific equipment on/off or using certain outlets.

• Consider the building's age and past renovations that could point to problem wiring locations. Issues tend to appear in older sections.

Thoroughly identifying electrical issues in commercial buildings takes time but narrows down where to focus troubleshooting efforts.

Checking the Breaker Panel

The building's main breaker panel is the next area to inspect. Here's how to thoroughly examine the breaker panel:

• Check if any breakers are flipped or fuses blown. This narrows down the circuit with the issue. Reset breakers/replace fuses.

• Scan for corrosion or damaged breakers. This can cause intermittent connections and electrical faults. Replace corroded breakers.

• Verify the amperage of breakers matches the circuit wires they serve. Amp mismatches can overload and damage wiring.

• Look for signs of overheating like discolored wires, melted plastic, or burnt smell. This indicates high electrical load issues.

• Use a multimeter to check voltage from the panel to problem outlets/fixtures. No voltage indicates a wiring break.

• Check the grounding wires are properly bonded. Faulty grounding can cause electrical safety risks.

Inspecting the breaker panel provides vital clues on where wiring problems originate.

Checking Junction Boxes and Conduit

Junction boxes and conduit contain key wiring connections that need thorough inspection:

• Open each junction box and check for loose, damaged, or corroded wire connections. This can cause electrical shorts/outages. Tighten or replace affected wires.

• Verify insulation integrity on wiring inside junction boxes. Brittle, cracked insulation can expose live conductors. Rewrap or replace bad wires.

• Check for overstuffed boxes that place excessive strain on wire connections. Remove excess wires and update to larger boxes if needed.

• Carefully inspect conduit for cracks, dents, gaps or other damage that can pinch and damage enclosed wiring. Repair or replace affected sections.

• At conduit connections, check for gaps that let moisture enter and corrode wiring. Reseal any gaps with electrical tape or waterproof compound.

The junction boxes and conduits acting as wiring channels must be maintained properly to prevent issues.

Testing and Replacing Old Wiring

If wiring is suspected to be the root cause, further testing and replacement may be necessary:

• Use a multimeter to check old wiring for continuity and electrical shorts. This identifies problem spots.

• Evaluate wire gauge and insulation type against modern NEC codes for safety replacements.

• Check wiring for heat damage, cracking, brittleness and replace any deteriorated cable runs. Don't splice in repairs.

• For power surges and noise, install power line conditioners and surge suppressors to prevent damage.

• If dealing with knob and tube wiring, have a qualified electrician assess replacement needs per modern safety codes.

• Use circuit tracers to locate problematic hidden wiring behind walls for replacement.

Proactively testing and replacing very old, damaged building wiring can prevent electrical faults from occurring.

Leveraging Electrical Blueprints

For large commercial buildings, the original electrical blueprints are invaluable for troubleshooting tricky hidden wiring issues:

• Blueprints show breaker panel circuits, letting you isolate problems faster.

• The conduit routing and junction box locations allow tracing issues.

• The planned load balances across circuits indicates potential breaker/wire sizing problems.

• They provide the full wire routing to efficiently find and replace damaged wiring.

• You can see where wiring may have been rerouted or added during renovations.

Any available electrical blueprints should be the first resource used when troubleshooting to understand how building wiring was designed.

Thoroughly troubleshooting unusual electrical issues in older commercial buildings requires methodically narrowing down causes through inspection and testing. Leveraging electrical blueprints provides critical wiring insights. With persistence and the right tools, even tricky electrical faults can be effectively resolved.