Power surges, lights dimming HELP!
#1
12-31-04, 04:24 AM
Power surges, lights dimming HELP!
I need serious advice!! I flipped on my breakers at my rental property after my tenants moved out to make sure everything was working. When I tried to turn on the garbage disposal, the kitchen light got brighter??? I also was trying to vacuum and the power supply was going from low, where the vacuum was not getting full power, then it would switch to running normally. My pool pump also will not run on high, only on low. At the same time, my boyfriend was trying to use a circular saw on the other end of the house and was experiencing the same problem with the power going from normal to low. I called the power company first and they had me try the stove for power, that turned on, but I don't know if it was getting full power because I never let heat up all the way. They suggested an electrician. However, after reading some of the posts on this sight with similar issues,(it seems) it sounds like it might NOT be an internal issue, but maybe a transformer problem???. How do I figure that out? The house was built in 1962 and has been converted to breakers and no longer has fuses. I don't know when that was done, or if they are up to code. Of course it's the holiday weekend and thats my MY luck works :-( I would appreciate any suggestions from the experts. Thank you
#2
12-31-04, 05:39 AM
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It could be either utility side or your side of the meter. It is usually easiest to have the utility come out and check their side for free. They will verify the their conductors are terminated properly, then if no answer, then its time for an electrician to verify terminations are tight.
#3
12-31-04, 10:30 AM
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The lights getting brighter than normal is a dead (pun intended) give away. You likely have a loose neutral connection. 
It could be anywhere, but it's critical that it be fixed immediately. See if the power company will come back and check connections to the meter base. If all is okay there, get an electrician to check the rest. A "nice" person from the electric company might check things all the way into the breaker panel 
if you make sure they understand the symptoms - lights getting dim and bright - and tell them you think it might be a "loose neutral". Don't wait for more replies, call now.
Doug M.
It could be anywhere, but it's critical that it be fixed immediately. See if the power company will come back and check connections to the meter base. If all is okay there, get an electrician to check the rest. A "nice" person from the electric company might check things all the way into the breaker panel 
if you make sure they understand the symptoms - lights getting dim and bright - and tell them you think it might be a "loose neutral". Don't wait for more replies, call now. Doug M.
