Okay, this has been going on for months (if not longer, maybe even years.) The lights in 2 bedrooms, the wall outlets in 1 of the bedrooms (where a fan and the computer is plugged in), and the porch light are all on the same circuit.
I keep getting an intermittent dimming and flickering of the lights, almost as if the power is about to go out (and everything slows waaay down, like it can't draw enough power.) It then clears up for a while and everything is back to normal.
I've replaced the circuit breaker in question with a new one (15 amp. The old one's connection screw was rusty, so that should give you an idea of it's age.) The various lights etc in each part of the circuit have been turned on while the others were off, and still the flickering happens.
None of the other circuits in the house behave the same way. It could be a transformer problem, and hopefully not a wiring problem.
Now here's the kicker.
The circuit only acts up when commercial aircraft are flying nearby. (I've been outside to check. When things are fine, no airplanes. When it's acting up, sure enough, there's an airplane flying by, usually way up high.)
I figure it's the aircraft's radar/radio altimeter that's the culprit, causing interference with the circuit.
Anybody else run into a similar situation?
Strange electrical problem
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MrTim
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Strange electrical problem
"....the mechanism is so simple that even a wheel may be too small to contain it...."
"Sometimes the harder you look the better it hides." - Dilbert's garbageman
re: Strange electrical problem
Try checking the neutral connections & earths to the board - sounds like a loose wire [loose screw] in the circuit - or it could be a hairline break in a wire that opens up with temp variations or sound vibrations - something an electrician could find pretty quickly I'm guessing - you've most likely gone over all of these options.
re: Strange electrical problem
MrTim,
Judging by your age description makes me wonder if your house may have been wired with either aluminum or copper-clad wire. Both types were common until outlawed (here) in 1974.
This wire is subject to vibrations at connecting points, especially where it is push into clips and "daisy chained" at the wall outlets. Whether your wire is copper or aluminum, I would suggest you attempt to follow the path from the circuit breaker and check the connections at each wall outlet that is wired series-parallel. Do not worry about the lights fixtures until after checking the outlets.
If the "home run" lead should run through a light receptacle box with a separate switch leg then it may be there, but my years of experience as a trouble shooter found that it is usually a plug-in receptacle causing the problem.
If your house was built and wired by a speculation contractor, the recepticals are usually an economical item called "contractors grade, they are very cheap and do not last forever. They are usually identified by no screws in the side and the wire is pushed in from the back. If you have these, I suggest getting get rid of them!
Aircraft radio/ radar IMO would not and should not have any effect, sound or air vibration can likely to be the culprit!
Ralph
Judging by your age description makes me wonder if your house may have been wired with either aluminum or copper-clad wire. Both types were common until outlawed (here) in 1974.
This wire is subject to vibrations at connecting points, especially where it is push into clips and "daisy chained" at the wall outlets. Whether your wire is copper or aluminum, I would suggest you attempt to follow the path from the circuit breaker and check the connections at each wall outlet that is wired series-parallel. Do not worry about the lights fixtures until after checking the outlets.
If the "home run" lead should run through a light receptacle box with a separate switch leg then it may be there, but my years of experience as a trouble shooter found that it is usually a plug-in receptacle causing the problem.
If your house was built and wired by a speculation contractor, the recepticals are usually an economical item called "contractors grade, they are very cheap and do not last forever. They are usually identified by no screws in the side and the wire is pushed in from the back. If you have these, I suggest getting get rid of them!
Aircraft radio/ radar IMO would not and should not have any effect, sound or air vibration can likely to be the culprit!
Ralph
Re: re: Strange electrical problem
I just fixed a problem like that at a friends a week ago...Fletcher wrote:Try checking the neutral connections & earths to the board - sounds like a loose wire [loose screw] in the circuit - or it could be a hairline break in a wire that opens up with temp variations or sound vibrations - something an electrician could find pretty quickly I'm guessing - you've most likely gone over all of these options.
Then again... It could be the a high powered energy beam from a helicopter...? Working on anything interesting lately?
"A man with a new idea is a crank until he succeeds."~ M. Twain.
re: Strange electrical problem
Tim, hi!
If I was you, I should put all consumers of this branche in OFF and near by the switche I would look for some current consume... in open.
Connect an AC ampmeter in series with one at each time.
Possible to find a losing against earth.
A serious stuff that may vary according vibration and humidity, asking for a wire change.
Take care. M.
If I was you, I should put all consumers of this branche in OFF and near by the switche I would look for some current consume... in open.
Connect an AC ampmeter in series with one at each time.
Possible to find a losing against earth.
A serious stuff that may vary according vibration and humidity, asking for a wire change.
Take care. M.
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MrTim
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Re: re: Strange electrical problem
Thanks for the suggestions, all! I think I'll check for loose connections this weekend (though I still think it's the airplanes. :o )
Why, yes.... ;)Oxygon wrote: Then again... It could be the a high powered energy beam from a helicopter...? Working on anything interesting lately?
"....the mechanism is so simple that even a wheel may be too small to contain it...."
"Sometimes the harder you look the better it hides." - Dilbert's garbageman
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LustInBlack
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re: Strange electrical problem
Wel anyway, thanks for this post, I've found out I have those push wire receptacles myself. . What a coincidence!! I have those kind of electrical problems too in my appartment!
8O
8O
re: Strange electrical problem
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MrTim
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Just an update:
Went through all the outlets and switches on the circuit, tightened up connections, grounded grounds more securely. It still flickers occasionally (only when airplanes are flying nearby. ;)
On the other hand, I have to check everything out in the breaker panel, as we had an idiot repairman try to replace a heating element in the stove. I'm surprised he didn't electrocute himself (the tech from a different company we called out could only shake his head at the moron's "repairs"), as he blew the circuit breaker at least 5 times (loud bangs and pretty green flashes.) Replaced one breaker already which nearly burned it's connections out, so will have to check the rest.... >:(
Went through all the outlets and switches on the circuit, tightened up connections, grounded grounds more securely. It still flickers occasionally (only when airplanes are flying nearby. ;)
On the other hand, I have to check everything out in the breaker panel, as we had an idiot repairman try to replace a heating element in the stove. I'm surprised he didn't electrocute himself (the tech from a different company we called out could only shake his head at the moron's "repairs"), as he blew the circuit breaker at least 5 times (loud bangs and pretty green flashes.) Replaced one breaker already which nearly burned it's connections out, so will have to check the rest.... >:(