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Started By
Message
Electrical problems - whole house.
Posted on 7/22/24 at 8:27 am
Posted on 7/22/24 at 8:27 am
We've been having electrical problems for a few weeks now. The house is only 5 years old and none of my neighbors are having any problems.
It started with lights dimming in some rooms, so we called an electrician. He checked the voltage while the microwave was running and it was 119 and 124. He thought it was the neutral connection. I called Entergy. They checked the voltage and said everything was okay on their end. After telling them what the electrician's voltage readings were they agreed to "reinforce" the neutral connection.
We had no problems for the next few days. Then the problems became worse. It was not just lights dimming, but appliances were going on and off, and in one room the outlets all went out causing that breaker to trip. I went out to the electrical panel while the problems were occurring and heard a buzzing sound. I also heard a buzzing, sizzling sound from the utility pole across the street. I called Entergy again and this time they changed the neutral connection.
We had no problems for about 10 days after this. Now the same problems are happening again. Could the Entergy meter be faulty? Or is it a problem with my only 5 year old panel? I'm going to call the electrician again but would appreciate any opinions from the board, Thanks.
It started with lights dimming in some rooms, so we called an electrician. He checked the voltage while the microwave was running and it was 119 and 124. He thought it was the neutral connection. I called Entergy. They checked the voltage and said everything was okay on their end. After telling them what the electrician's voltage readings were they agreed to "reinforce" the neutral connection.
We had no problems for the next few days. Then the problems became worse. It was not just lights dimming, but appliances were going on and off, and in one room the outlets all went out causing that breaker to trip. I went out to the electrical panel while the problems were occurring and heard a buzzing sound. I also heard a buzzing, sizzling sound from the utility pole across the street. I called Entergy again and this time they changed the neutral connection.
We had no problems for about 10 days after this. Now the same problems are happening again. Could the Entergy meter be faulty? Or is it a problem with my only 5 year old panel? I'm going to call the electrician again but would appreciate any opinions from the board, Thanks.
11
Posted on 7/22/24 at 9:02 am to mooch1984
Could be anything.
Most likely just a cheap service drop/entry combined with appliances starting up. No builder is going to follow NEC recommendations, just rules.
Could easily be something out in the grid as well.
4% voltage drop on a branch is completely normal but not if measured at panel. Would require a lot more data to narrow down.
Most likely just a cheap service drop/entry combined with appliances starting up. No builder is going to follow NEC recommendations, just rules.
Could easily be something out in the grid as well.
4% voltage drop on a branch is completely normal but not if measured at panel. Would require a lot more data to narrow down.
This post was edited on 7/22/24 at 9:35 am
Posted on 7/22/24 at 9:39 am to mooch1984
(no message)
This post was edited on 1/12/25 at 10:08 am
Posted on 7/22/24 at 9:43 am to mooch1984
You obviously have a problem. Usually when there are bad connections there is heat generated. If it acts up again you might do some "smelling" around your panel and try to sense any heat with the back of your hand. A infrared thermometer would be great and a thermal camera would be even better.
My arc-fault breakers make a very slight buzzing sound and have for nearly a decade. Very slight though.
Something that would be helpful for the electrician is to try and remember any details when it happen/happens again. Like what appliances were running and especially ones that just turned on. How hot was it outside affecting outside connections. Or was it raining.
You might try and "re-create" the problem before the electrician gets there so you can point him in that direction. If you can get some electric space heaters you can try plugging several in different rooms and really put a load on the system. Might wait on that last one for the electrician to get there.
If you don't already, not a bad time to pick up some fire extinguishers. Last week Costco had a decent one on sale for $30
My arc-fault breakers make a very slight buzzing sound and have for nearly a decade. Very slight though.
Something that would be helpful for the electrician is to try and remember any details when it happen/happens again. Like what appliances were running and especially ones that just turned on. How hot was it outside affecting outside connections. Or was it raining.
You might try and "re-create" the problem before the electrician gets there so you can point him in that direction. If you can get some electric space heaters you can try plugging several in different rooms and really put a load on the system. Might wait on that last one for the electrician to get there.
If you don't already, not a bad time to pick up some fire extinguishers. Last week Costco had a decent one on sale for $30
Posted on 7/22/24 at 10:00 am to mooch1984
Location?
Posted on 7/22/24 at 10:37 am to mooch1984
I've had the problem before and it was the connections on the pole transformer.
The utility company fixed it.
The utility company fixed it.
Posted on 7/22/24 at 10:52 am to mooch1984
Loose wires in panel can cause this
Posted on 7/22/24 at 8:54 pm to Tigerbait2323
quote:at least worth getting a #2 square end screw driver and tightening each breaker connection
Loose wires in panel can cause this
Posted on 7/23/24 at 7:06 am to mooch1984
SEEK makes a thermal imager you can plug into your cell phone. Around $300.
What you’re describing sounds like a loose connection on one leg of your 220 service. But it can also be a faulty transformer leg. Is anyone else on that transformer? Are they having the same issues?
Do some detective work and look for hot spots. They will be easy to find with the SEEK.
Plus if it is a faulty transformer, hard for Entergy to deny.
Good luck
What you’re describing sounds like a loose connection on one leg of your 220 service. But it can also be a faulty transformer leg. Is anyone else on that transformer? Are they having the same issues?
Do some detective work and look for hot spots. They will be easy to find with the SEEK.
Plus if it is a faulty transformer, hard for Entergy to deny.
Good luck
Posted on 7/23/24 at 7:17 am to mooch1984
Had this issue years ago and it was the lug screws at the meter that were coming loose. Took three Entergy guys to finally figure it out
Posted on 7/23/24 at 8:45 am to GBFINC
Thanks for all the replies. I had the electrician come back and he thinks it could be the Entergy meter or meter connections. I'll call Entergy for the 3rd time and try and get them to at least check the meter connections
This post was edited on 7/23/24 at 8:50 am
Posted on 7/23/24 at 9:52 am to mooch1984
My dad had this problem and it ruined a few of their appliances. It was on Entergy's end. He and his neighbor feed off the same transformer and neighbor wasn't experiencing any issues.
From what the Entergy sub told him, they use a spring loaded connection and the springs can wear out. Keep bugging Entergy until it's fixed.
From what the Entergy sub told him, they use a spring loaded connection and the springs can wear out. Keep bugging Entergy until it's fixed.
Posted on 7/23/24 at 10:00 am to mooch1984
Sounds like loose/faulty terminals in the utility connections. Cable crimps loose or corroded at the transformer, terminal lugs not torqued properly, etc. Pretty much stuff that requires the utility company to properly troubleshoot, not always easy and it can take several calls. Just have to be persistent and eventually they get tired of call-backs and will get it fixed.
Posted on 7/23/24 at 12:04 pm to Clames
quote:
Just have to be persistent and eventually they get tired of call-backs and will get it fixed.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be a monopoly and not have to provide service the first time someone calls you? That would be quite nice!
Agreed though. Sounds like you have a loose connection that is arcing under load. Loose connections can build up heat quickly so if you aren’t smelling anything in your panel or outlets or anything it’s likely upstream on the utility side.
Let us know how they resolve it.
Posted on 7/23/24 at 1:36 pm to mooch1984
Probably a loose lug in your meter base
Posted on 7/25/24 at 7:13 am to jorconalx
I had Entergy out for the third time and this crew was much more thorough than the first 2 crews combined. They took multiple voltage readings around the meter, around the lines connected to my house, and up on the pole. They eventually found a bad wire up on the pole.This seems to have fixed my problems.
Thanks again for all the replies.
Thanks again for all the replies.
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