House Electrical Help

Didn't know if this should be here or in the Off-Topic section, so please move if a mod feels necessary.

I know this is a truck forum, but I know there are some elctricians running around here too. My whole house is flickering from time to time. Doesn't seem to be real consistent with time, or electrical draw on the system, but the whole house does flicker when it happens.

So, questions are, will one short make the whole house flicker? Or is this something that is happening at the box where power is coming in? Any suggestions on where I should start to track down the problem?

One more thing, I was outside last night when my porch light started to flicker, and I didn't notice my neighbor's porch flickering, so I figured it must only be my house.

Thanks in advance for any help I get.

Scott

 

you may need to tighten the lugs up in your breaker box mine flickered like that not long after i hooked up the power the lines coming into my main outside box had shrunk a bit just tightened them up been fine for 6yrs now good luck b careful

 

^^^^^
This could be a issue.

Maybe the wires from the pole are not making good contact with the "main" breaker to your house. Your meter could also be loose. How's your electric bill? I had an issue one time where our security system kept losing power, the customer had a loose wire in the breaker box. Every time the washing machine would kick on, it would vibrate the breaker panel and shake that wire.

Had another customer complain about her security system causing power outages for her whole house. Turned out to be a loose connection at the meter. The wind would blow or her dog would hit the conduit or something and it would cause the meter to shake very slightly. You could stand out there in the dark and shake the box and see sparks. Pretty dangerous. Her power bill was VERY different every month for some reason.

 

You could also secure one breaker at a time, try to isolate the source... just a thought. I'm more with kris77 though.


Can you be a little more descriptive with the flicker... does it actually flick on and off really quickly, or does it seem more like a drain, such as the frequency dropping, causing lights to flicker dimly. This is particularly noticeable in flourescent lights, they like a nice 60hz to operate correctly. If the hertz are dropping, i'd drop all your important electronic devices off until you get it fixed, bad hertz fries shit pretty quickly.

 

Thanks for the responses. Sorry for the delays.

mytoyo2-I took a look at my box, and couldn't really figure our what lugs you were talking about. Some clarification is appreciated. I can't really see anything except the breakers unless I take the whole box apart.

kris77-Haven't tried to shake things around yet to see if anything is loose, but this makes sense. I haven't noticed it happening for a few days now, but didn't really notice if it only happens when it's windy or not. I will pay better attention to the weather the next time it happens.

brian-It seems like it's going on an off really quickly, not a like a drain. It's resetting my clocks and my amp to my entertainment system. Sometimes it doesn't shut anything off, just notice the lights, then others it will shut the clocks and amp down. Usually happens a in spurts too, not like one time then it's fine, it's like someone is wiggling an on and off switch back and forth on my whole house.

Thanks again for the help.

 

What year was your house built?


...and what brand service equipment (panel) do you have?

 

House was built in 1948, with some additions somewhere between then and 1975 when we bought the house. I'll check on the panel and let you know when I get home. If I can't figure it out, maybe I'll just post a pic of it.

Thanks

 

I'll check back, but if some of the updates were done during the Vietnam war, (mid to late 60's to early to mid 70's) you might want to have someone take a peak for you and see if you have single strand aluminum branch wiring....

 

I'd try a multi-meter in your outlets. It'll tell you if the voltage is actually fluxuating or if it's at least constant at the outlets.

 

This is something you should have a professional look at.

 

you need to take the cover off the lugs where the wires cum in from the pole should be there connected with a large screw mine takes allen wrench . If its not inside check ur main box near the meter if neither works call the power company could be the line on their end at the pole. I hope yuo find it

 

x2, If it's a problem with the service, I wouldn't mess with the electrical box unless you know what you're doing. Simple diagnoses is one thing, dealing with a live feed is not something to mess around with.