Why Does This Happen With the Lights
#1
03-21-20, 07:39 PM
Join Date: Mar 2020
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Why Does This Happen With the Lights
This is something new in the past 4 weeks.
We have 2 four foot fluorescent fixtures in our kitchen w/ballasts. They don't go on all the way at this time since we probably need new lamps. Now along with that, when we use the microwave, if the fridge goes on or we use the toaster oven, there is almost a complete blackout in the kitchen. . At the computer desk I am sitting at, I have a lamp with a 60 watt bulb that starts pulsing with steady beat. I am familiar with overloaded circuits but we have used all of the same items at the same time and never had a near complete blackout. Could this be cause by a bad ground somewhere, bad ballasts, , etc. We are on fixed income and an Electrician is not in the budget right now. Looking for answers. Thank You. Robert
We have 2 four foot fluorescent fixtures in our kitchen w/ballasts. They don't go on all the way at this time since we probably need new lamps. Now along with that, when we use the microwave, if the fridge goes on or we use the toaster oven, there is almost a complete blackout in the kitchen. . At the computer desk I am sitting at, I have a lamp with a 60 watt bulb that starts pulsing with steady beat. I am familiar with overloaded circuits but we have used all of the same items at the same time and never had a near complete blackout. Could this be cause by a bad ground somewhere, bad ballasts, , etc. We are on fixed income and an Electrician is not in the budget right now. Looking for answers. Thank You. Robert
Last edited by pcboss; 03-22-20 at 04:35 PM.
#2
03-21-20, 09:48 PM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
Do you have a test meter ?
Otherwise there is going to be needless guess work involved.
If you were overloading the circuit..... the circuit breaker would trip.
Is it only one circuit that is being affected ?
Do you have any appliances that run on 240v and are they working ok ?
A ground won't cause a visual problem. Bad ballasts won't affect your desk light.
Do you have a test meter ?
Otherwise there is going to be needless guess work involved.
If you were overloading the circuit..... the circuit breaker would trip.
Is it only one circuit that is being affected ?
Do you have any appliances that run on 240v and are they working ok ?
A ground won't cause a visual problem. Bad ballasts won't affect your desk light.
#3
03-22-20, 05:45 AM
When the lights pulsate, what is the frequency (beats per second)?
Looks like a bad connection or broken connection in a hot or neutral.
Flip off all of the 240 volt breakers (those controlling water heater, stove, air conditioner, non-gas/oil furnace, those with two handles joined together (except the main breaker on top).
Try the lights in different room and write down the results.
Do you have any incandescent lights (with old fashioned light bulbs)?
Plug one in in a different receptacle when you use the toaster oven, etc. Dos the light get dim elsewhere in the house as well as in the kitchen? Try several different rooms. Write down your results stating which receptacles you were using for each test..
With more than one incandescent light, do they both misbehave the same way at the same time? With more than one light try many different combinations in differnt as well as the same room. Write down oyour results,
When done, make sure refirgerator is running normally and light inside is normal; pull out and use extension cord to different and good receptacle if needed.
\
REply in this forum thread with your results. Better not to make a very long reply all at once to avoid loss of typing if the system crashes.Instead make several medium-short replies.
Looks like a bad connection or broken connection in a hot or neutral.
Flip off all of the 240 volt breakers (those controlling water heater, stove, air conditioner, non-gas/oil furnace, those with two handles joined together (except the main breaker on top).
Try the lights in different room and write down the results.
Do you have any incandescent lights (with old fashioned light bulbs)?
Plug one in in a different receptacle when you use the toaster oven, etc. Dos the light get dim elsewhere in the house as well as in the kitchen? Try several different rooms. Write down your results stating which receptacles you were using for each test..
With more than one incandescent light, do they both misbehave the same way at the same time? With more than one light try many different combinations in differnt as well as the same room. Write down oyour results,
When done, make sure refirgerator is running normally and light inside is normal; pull out and use extension cord to different and good receptacle if needed.
\
REply in this forum thread with your results. Better not to make a very long reply all at once to avoid loss of typing if the system crashes.Instead make several medium-short replies.
Last edited by AllanJ; 03-22-20 at 06:01 AM.
#4
03-22-20, 11:21 AM
Group Moderator
@ AllanJ ...... believe it or not... they've got the auto save working again. If you're replying and get kicked off..... go back to the reply area and click on "restore auto-saved content" located in the bottom left of the reply screen.
#5
03-22-20, 11:33 AM
Member
I'd be calling the power company ASAP and have them come check for a loose neutral wire on there end.
https://ask-the-electrician.com/what...-neutral-wire/
In some cases with a loose neutral it can destroy anything that's plugged into an outlet.
https://ask-the-electrician.com/what...-neutral-wire/
In some cases with a loose neutral it can destroy anything that's plugged into an outlet.
#6
03-22-20, 12:44 PM
Group Moderator
2 four foot neon fixtures in our kitchen w/ballasts
