Documented field work
Installation details and completed work
The need
The customer reported that power had randomly stopped working in several parts of the condo after Friday night. The affected areas included all outlets in one bedroom, some outlets in a second bedroom and the living room, along with the guest washroom, entrance and laundry room. The kitchen, main bedroom and bathroom, and most living-area lights still had power.
PTX's approach
The initial concern was a faulty main breaker in the meter stack because there was no voltage on the hot conductor entering the unit's breaker panel. PTX arranged a permit and sourced a replacement breaker, then tested the breaker. The recorded test found no defect in it. With permission from New Westminster Power, the meter was removed for the investigation. Voltage into the cable was normal, but it was not reaching the unit, indicating a cable or connection failure. No junction was found in the cable. PTX fitted an access panel in the wall below the breaker panel and recorded that the cable is believed to be cast in the slab.
The recorded result
The main breaker was not replaced because testing did not show it was defective, and the breaker cost was removed from the job. The permit was cancelled because it was not needed for the work carried out. The recorded work stopped at investigation and access-panel installation; the suspected cable replacement was not completed. A more detailed repair quote was available to the strata, with the estimated repair cost recorded as $10,000–$20,000. The meter seal had been removed and was recorded as awaiting replacement after the required work is completed.
What this job helps another property owner consider
When power is missing from several areas but remains available elsewhere, the visible breaker may not be the source of the problem. This example shows the value of tracing the supply path and testing the suspected component before replacing it. A larger repair may then need to be planned if the fault is found in the cable or its connections.
Frequently asked questions
Questions property decision-makers ask
What did PTX find during this New Westminster emergency response?
The recorded testing found no defect in the main breaker. Voltage was present into the cable but was not reaching the unit, indicating a cable or connection failure. The cable was believed to be cast in the slab, and its replacement was not completed during the recorded work.