First, does anyone know someone who is influential at PECO? We need to schedule a service call as soon as possible (and we have heard it can be a long wait)… If you have any leads, please let Michael or Casey know.
Second, let me explain what has happened. There is a transformer in the basement that turns the 2-phase electric in our Sanctuary building into 3-phase electric that is needed to power the HVAC system (both cooling and heating). Actually there are a number of transformers down there, for most of the electrical systems in the building, because most modern electricity is 3- phase. Of all the electrical use in our Sanctuary building, only our organ is powered on 2-phase electricity (an oddity that at this point is only really found in Hartford, Ct. and Philadelphia).
Anyway, the transformer for the HVAC system has burned out. Which means there is no power to run it!
Finding a transformer for 2- phase to 3-phase electric has proven very difficult for our electrician to find. Our electrician has consulted with the engineers at PECO, and now the thinking is that we should have PECO come in and update our basic electrical service to 3-phase.
That will eliminate the need for the replacement transformer for the HVAC. (But will require the electrician to “reverse-wire” a transformer to create the 2-phase electric needed for the organ.) This seems like the most straightforward plan and will prevent us getting in a similar bind in the future when other 2 to 3 phase transformers wear out.
The only problem now is: we need to wait for PECO to come out and change our electrical service, and word on the street is that getting a service call from PECO can take a long time. (But if we have a connection…) We will keep you updated.
In the meantime, as long as it stays hot, worship will be in the Community Room in Old First House. It worked out well last Sunday, with only a few minor tech challenges. The Community Room is fully accessible and comfortable. We will be fine there, even if we don’t want to be there too long. (Think hard who you know!).
Let Michael or Casey know if you have any questions or thoughts…
MC
