Power Fluctuations on Circuit with GFI Breaker

I have lights on one circuit in my home that flicker. The breaker for the circuit is a 15A GFI. In addition to lights, the circuit includes two ceiling fans and a couple of TV's and cable TV boxes. Typically, the TV's remain on while lights flicker but occasionally the power will go off long enough to turn off the TV's (maybe 20 seconds). In either case, the GFI circuit breaker never trips.

I've tightened the wires at the breaker and the neutral bar but they were already snug so I don't think that's the problem. The house was built in 1974 so I doubt that the breaker is original to the box but I do know that it was installed prior to 1999.

Any suggestions?

 

Welcome to the forums.

You are going to have to identify every location that the GFI circuit feeds and check the connections. You may find that you have wiring just pushed into the back of a receptacle which is a common cause of intermittent problems.

 

GFCI circuit breakers are rarely installed on general-purpose circuits which include lighting. Could it be an AFCI breaker?

That said, the likely cause is a loose connection somewhere in the circuit, as PJ suggested.

 

Your house was built in the era of aluminum wiring. Sounds like a loose connection as the others suspect.

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

In a way, the problem solved itself. The power went out for an extended period minutes after I sent the post. I went to the panel to see if the breaker tripped and it hadn't but there was a barely perceptible sizzling sound. I wiggled the breaker and decided it was the cause so I pulled it and gave it a visual inspection. The top contact on the breaker for the hot bus bar was burned away. I pulled the breaker and replaced it with a new one of the same amperage. I've also arranged with an electrician to inspect the panel.

As for the comment regarding it being a GFCI, there are no marking on the breaker to suggest it's a GFCI or an AFCI. I'm familiar only with the features of an AFCI but I've never seen one. If it's wired in the same way as a GFCI then it could have been either.

As for aluminum wiring, I don't think I have any. I checked several of the outlets and the panel when I bought the home and I found none but I suppose it could be spliced in areas that are less visible.

 

Then why did you state this in your first post?

And why did you title the thread.....

If the sizzling you heard was from the contact of the breaker to the bus bar and if the bus bars are aluminum, you may have to abandon that space and relocate the new breaker. Aluminum bus bars cannot tolerate overheating and/or sizzling without permanent irreparable damage being done.

 

I too recommend an evaluation of the bus contact area to see if it is still suitable for use.