Do it Yourself: RE: [DIY] Re: Can 1 circuit affect another circuit?

29 November 2012

RE: [DIY] Re: Can 1 circuit affect another circuit?

I would check the connections at the circuit breaker; especially the service connect. If they aren't tight, then there would be an arcing and that might cause the flickering.

Also, it sounds like there is an amperage problem. Do you have a 100 Amp service or 200? Most older houses have 100 amps which is not quite enough for today's usage with toasters, microwaves, TV's, electric blankets, and power tools. A neighbor had his service upgraded to a 200 but then he bought a monster heat pump and when that kicks in, the lights dim. He should have gone to a larger amperage but at the time, he said he wasn't going to buy a AC unit.

To: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
From: subprong@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:44:52 -0600
Subject: Re: [DIY] Re: Can 1 circuit affect another circuit?

Various lights (on different breakers) are flickering. This happens randomly when nothing major is in use nor is anything major kicking on (like an AC or fridge) and I've also noticed happens sometimes if I use something (for instance a tool I used this evening initially sounded quite drained and sputtery as the lights flickered). I believe it's also happening on an entire different line for someone else but not positive. The flickering is usually pretty speedy, flicking a couple/few times rather fast....not sure if it's my imagination but it does vary from being dim to brighter at points.

On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 7:40 AM, wired <wiredformen@yahoo.com> wrote:

When this happens do you notice some get brighter while others get dimmer? That would be a neutral connection issue either on the street or within your service panel/meter. Are they on different circuits (breakers)? I assumed you mean more than one fixture flickering.
If only 1 circuit flickers, it's in that circuit. Likely the wiring goes from plug to plug/switch and could be a loose connection at any of the plugs on the circuit.

--- In DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com, subprong <subprong@...> wrote:
>
> I've noticed flickering lights indoors the last couple of days that are
> fairly frequent. Electrically speaking nothing has changed recently. The
> only thing of minor note would be that I changed out an outdoor security
> light bulb a week or so ago on a dusk til dawn sensored light. Is there a
> chance that this bulb is working properly (lit) but be somehow defective
> that it would trigger problems on other circuits (pulling current from
> other circuits)?
>
> This light flickering happened a few years ago. The electric company came
> out and did something at the pole which fixed things up at the time. After
> he left I found a 3" long section of tightly bundled wires that had been
> cut and I presume replaced or adapted. It was a bunch of colored wires
> within a black casing. Probably about 3/4"-1" in diameter.
>
> Basically trying to figure out if this is something on my end or their end
> again.
>