WTF is wrong with my power here....

[aphex]

I think there may be a wiring problem....

The lights in my office (upstairs) flicker all the time. I can see it not only in the ceiling fan light, but the bathroom lights and closet light as well.

Its like every 20-30 seconds, the lights get dim for about 2 seconds then brighten back up again. Now the problem is, for some godforsaken reason, they have the office (which is upstairs), the kitchen (downstairs), and the back patio (behind the kitchen) wired to the same circuit breaker.

About two weeks ago, i was grilling with my electric grill on the back patio (which mind you, dims all the lights in our place when i turn it on) tripped the circuit and i had to turn it back on.

Now this morning, my fiancee (in the bedroom, upstairs as well but on a different circuit), saw the lights get brighter, heard a loud pop, then the power went out for a few seconds...

I can confirm the power loss in the bedroom, living room (downstairs), and Kitchen (downstairs). But it dosent look like the power went out in the Office (upstairs) as my computer is in there with my two battery backups and neither are reporting any irregulaties.

WTF is goin on?

 

[DurocShark]

Unplug your fridge. It sounds like your lights are dimming whenever the fridge compressor kicks in.

You can unplug your fridge for hours with no problem as long as you don't open the door.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Unplug your fridge. It sounds like your lights are dimming whenever the fridge compressor kicks in.

You can unplug your fridge for hours with no problem as long as you don't open the door.

Hmmm, never even thought of that.... It kicks in that often?

 

[mobobuff]

Holy crap. Got anything in the house that might be drawing a large deal of power at intervals? Like maybe a sump pump, refrigerator, or furnace? Might wanna check the major appliances you have plugged in and make sure it's not that. If it's not, then you've definitely got some crappy electrical wiring going on.

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Unplug your fridge. It sounds like your lights are dimming whenever the fridge compressor kicks in.

You can unplug your fridge for hours with no problem as long as you don't open the door.

Hmmm, never even thought of that.... It kicks in that often?

It can. Especially if it's empty or nearly so.

 

[aphex]

Got anything in the house that might be drawing a large deal of power at intervals?

Nope, just a fridge. The A/C is off, oven was off, washer/dryer were off. The only other thing on was my computer (both LCD's off) but its a constant draw. This is a townhouse, were not wired up the neighbors somehow are we?

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: aphex

Got anything in the house that might be drawing a large deal of power at intervals?

Nope, just a fridge. The A/C is off, oven was off, washer/dryer were off. The only other thing on was my computer (both LCD's off) but its a constant draw. This is a townhouse, were not wired up the neighbors somehow are we?

It's possible (though unlikely) that while you each have your own meters and fuses that the line to your property isn't sufficient for everybody that's using it.

Before you start thinking that far out though, absolutely eliminate your stuff. Start with the fridge. If the lights continue to act up, start unplugging EVERYTHING in your house except the lights you're using to check. If it still does it, your light fixtures are probably jacked.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: DurocShark

Originally posted by: aphex

Got anything in the house that might be drawing a large deal of power at intervals?

Nope, just a fridge. The A/C is off, oven was off, washer/dryer were off. The only other thing on was my computer (both LCD's off) but its a constant draw. This is a townhouse, were not wired up the neighbors somehow are we?

It's possible (though unlikely) that while you each have your own meters and fuses that the line to your property isn't sufficient for everybody that's using it.

Before you start thinking that far out though, absolutely eliminate your stuff. Start with the fridge. If the lights continue to act up, start unplugging EVERYTHING in your house except the lights you're using to check. If it still does it, your light fixtures are probably jacked.

will do, i'll let cha know what happens

thanks for the help guys...