I need some troubleshooting tips here. I have a customer that is experiencing flickering lights, but not in anyway that I've ever seen or heard of. The lights will brighten, then dim and a small tv in her kitchen will shut off.....when does this happen? Whenever she turns on her jacuzzi tub. No new work has been done in this house in the past ten years. The tub is on a dedicated circuit. The tv is plugged into a circuit which is on a different leg from the (110V) jaccuzi circuit. Any ideas? Or is this the utility company's problem from the pole to the main? I didn't read any voltage fluctuation when the tub was turned on (but then I don't have a digital meter either). By the way, the weatherhead was truck by lightning 2 years ago, but according to the homeowner the entire service was rmoved and replaced to code.

Sounds like there is a bad connection on the neutral conductor that is feeding the panel.

I'd put money on a loose neutral at the Poco's transformer. Check all the connections in the panel and disco (individual circuits and mains). If all is OK, tell the home owner to call the poco. I see this 3 or 4 times a year and it's ALWAYS the poco's fault.

Although it is kind of fun to watch the lights get brighter when you use a hair dryer.

[This message has been edited by Electric Eagle (edited 06-07-2004).]

When you have PG&E check their connection make sure they check at the service riser and at their pole.

Edward

after you have the utility company check,,and if they dont find anything,,,just remember the words lightning strike that she mentioned...good luck

semano,
I'd say start at the Panel and work upstream from there.
There has to be a loose or broken Neutral or Phase wire in the system.

Hello Semano,
Which state do live in? I was checking out the profile. I guess you forgot to type it in.
Thanks

Thanks all. Everybody was right on this one. It was a loose neutral, or corroded neutral I should say. Finally got off my butt and got up to the weatherhead after checking everything else a thousand times, and there it was ! Frayed neutral going into the weatherhead. Thanks again.