lights dim! ground?

Hello eveyone, Our house was built in 1967, We bought 3 years ago,there have been a number of upgrades done and I'm sure most of them were done by Harry Homeowner, our electrical probs. are #1 when any appliances are kicked on the lights go dim breifly and some cases go bright breifly.the circuit in the master bath really goes dim and stays that way when the hair dryer is used.#2 The clothes dryer is a 30amp zinsco c-b that has to be replaced every 6 mos. to a year. I've replaced 3 so far, getting exspensive.#3 we have an out bldg. that has a 220 line under ground but only 1 side is hot. I checked the c-b @ the main panel and its ok, and disconnected it @ 1 point to see if it might be the culprit for the lights going dim, not the problem. I'm thinking there might be a ground problem and will probably hire an electrician to check everything out just wanted to pick your brains before anyone looks at it. We have a service pole @ the road then runs underground to a outdoor zinsco meter box I think is 100 amp w/ a sub box for the ac/heat/ect.then a murray 125 amp circuit box in the house. All the zinsco 30amp c-bs that keep going out are in the box outside W/ the meter. It is grounded to a metal pipe in the ground @ the meter next to the foundation. Thanks max

 

Lights going brighter when a heavy load is applied is typical of a problem with the nuetral. The grounding conductor (safety ground, bare or green wire) does not cunduct excpet when a fault occurs. The grounded conductor (nuetral, white wire) cones from the POCO along with two hots for 120/240 service. If the nuetral has a poor connection you can see light brighten when a heavy load is applied to the opposite leg of the 120. Have the POCO check there connections first since it will not cost you anything. If they do not find a problem, check or hire someone to check the service entrance conductors.

 

i really suggest that the zinsco breaker really have to be replaced. i talked to the other person in the other fourm for professall electrican chat fourm area , and they say zinsco breaker are expesnive and they have alot of troble with busbar get damaged from weak concats . and i belive this might be over your head with this loadcenter box and i really suggest to get a electrican and help you to get the box replaced. my self i don't intercounterd zinsco breaker much at all. but my opion is better be safe side get a electrican and check out the main breaker and other wiring there i am sure that is the curpit is .

one quick warning if you heard buzzing sound or light go flicker when you touch main breaker or other breaker get a electrican there asap !!


merci, marc

 

FrenchSparkey, Yeah your exactly right there is a lot of busbar deposit build up every time I change one,so I had room to move them down to an empty slot, a guy told me tha that same thing tha t they didn't use very good material in those boxes or the breakers. I will prob. upgrade to a 200amp box, any suggestions on what kind? Square D ? Thanks again for your reply you guys are great! Max.