Lights Flicker?

Flickering In One Area

• The problem could lie with lights that are on the same circuit. If that's the case, the likely source of the problem is in the circuit breaker or the neutral connection. The neutral connection runs to the electrical "ground." More often than not, connections, especially the neutral connection, are the problem. It is less common for connections along the path to the circuit to be faulty. A good clue that the problem may lie with the neutral line is that some lights become more dim while others brighten. If only some lights on a circuit blink, this indicates the trouble lies somewhere along the circuit to the panel--a much more difficult problem to diagnose and solve.

Flickering Throughout The House

• It's hard to tell if the lights flicker all over simultaneously because you can be at only one place at one time. A friend or member of the household can assist you in discovering if the flickering problem affects the entire home. If the flickering isn't limited to a single bulb, outlet or circuit, there is a good chance that a main wire connection in the home's circuit breaker panel is the cause. It could even mean that the problem lies outside of the house in the supply line from the power company's transformer to your home.

  Flickering When Major Appliances Turn On

  • A slight, interim flicker is not uncommon when big-power drainers with motors such as washing machines and air conditioner compressors kick on. Use a gauge to check that the phase-to-ground voltage is around 120 volts. If the voltage dips momentarily when a large appliance is turned on, there probably is no serious problem. Check the voltage at the panel, the main line and have an electrician check the voltage at the meter enclosure.

  An Electrician's Tip

  • Before expecting the worst, there is an old electrician's trick to track a potential problem quickly. If the problem if more than just one light or area, check the wall outlet voltage on the outside wall nearest to the service panel, that is, the circuit breaker panel. The reason is a logical one, from an electrician's point of view. Homes are often wired with the first outlet box on the circuit as the distribution point for the rest of the circuit. Variations in temperature, moisture and the fact that the entire flow of electricity for that circuit runs through that outlet, makes it most susceptible to loosening or wear on the wires and their connections.

    
    

    
    

    
    

    Borrowed from Chuck Ayres