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Started By
Message
Why are my circuits dying?
Posted on 1/3/24 at 9:32 pm
Posted on 1/3/24 at 9:32 pm
We just moved into a 30yo house a year ago. Every few months a circuit quits. ALsmost always it's a 3-way circuit. IS this the switches going bad? Tonigth I discovered one where the switch is bridging the left side in both positions.
6
Posted on 1/3/24 at 10:41 pm to tadman
Do you have an old federal pacific box.. they were popular back then ( a little earlier).. I had them in my house built in the late 70s..
You have to change it out …. Those boxes will not usually get passed by the Indpection..
You have to change it out …. Those boxes will not usually get passed by the Indpection..
Posted on 1/3/24 at 11:44 pm to tadman
you talking about light switches?
Posted on 1/4/24 at 7:11 am to Turnblad85
quote:
you talking about light switches?
Yessir. We have a number of light circuits in the house where there is 1-3 lights and two switches, one at each door to the room. Recently the circuit in question has one ceiling lamp. I replaced the bulb and it still doesn't turn on. Upon testing the switches, the west switch changes the polarity of the circuit as you flip the switch. The east switch does not, which tells me it might be shorted or something.
Posted on 1/4/24 at 1:13 pm to tadman
I have something similar going on in my kitchen circuit with 4 in-ceiling fixtures and 2 switches. It is down to only 2 working lights and 1 blinks for the first few seconds. House is 10 yrs old and I'm the second owner. I blame it on the fact one of the switches is a wifi switch.
Haven't had time over the holidays to climb in the attic and inspect the situation and completely map out the circuit wiring. So I'm curious what sort of responses you will get in this thread.
Haven't had time over the holidays to climb in the attic and inspect the situation and completely map out the circuit wiring. So I'm curious what sort of responses you will get in this thread.
Posted on 1/4/24 at 1:21 pm to tadman
quote:
Yessir. We have a number of light circuits in the house where there is 1-3 lights and two switches, one at each door to the room.
the switch only controls the light/ceiling fan so the outlets arent part of the problem.
that said, if you have more than just one light/ceiling fan on that switch, it may be maxed out on the amps its designed to handle.
if you have an unusual setup and you think you may need to upgrade the regular standard 15a switch to a 20a or 25a to meet the power draw, they are easy to find at the supply stores
This post was edited on 1/4/24 at 1:23 pm
Posted on 1/4/24 at 3:53 pm to tadman
Turns out I am a dumbass and there was a third switch on the circuit that was half-up/down. Still doesn't solve the other two circuits that went dead, but this one is a no-brainer.
As for the other two:
(A) three garage plugs, no known switches other than the panel. Dead.
(B) three can lights in the kitchen. I change the dining room circuit to rheostat and suddenly the three cans in the kitchen die. I change that dining back to a switch, kitchen still dead. I back feed off the neighboring circuit to get some light. On to the next fire.
As for the other two:
(A) three garage plugs, no known switches other than the panel. Dead.
(B) three can lights in the kitchen. I change the dining room circuit to rheostat and suddenly the three cans in the kitchen die. I change that dining back to a switch, kitchen still dead. I back feed off the neighboring circuit to get some light. On to the next fire.
Posted on 1/4/24 at 3:55 pm to tadman
sounds like you need a good electrician
Posted on 1/4/24 at 6:01 pm to tadman
quote:
(A) three garage plugs, no known switches other than the panel. Dead.
Probably tied to a GFI somewhere.
Posted on 1/5/24 at 3:44 am to tadman
If in BTR, I have a good and reasonable price electrician.
Posted on 1/5/24 at 10:41 am to tadman
You are probably over thinking this OP. Switches go bad from use, they just get worn out and lose the positive connection I believe.
You probably just have a lot of old switches and they are just wearing out.
ETA: Also, in a 30 year old house that has multiple 3 way switches there's a damn good chance that a previous owner screwed with them and wired them improperly. So always double check that as a possibility.
You probably just have a lot of old switches and they are just wearing out.
ETA: Also, in a 30 year old house that has multiple 3 way switches there's a damn good chance that a previous owner screwed with them and wired them improperly. So always double check that as a possibility.
This post was edited on 1/5/24 at 11:14 am
Posted on 1/5/24 at 11:07 am to baldona
That would be my guess. Those $0.69 builder switches don't last forever.
Posted on 1/5/24 at 11:42 am to keakar
quote:
if you have an unusual setup and you think you may need to upgrade the regular standard 15a switch to a 20a or 25a to meet the power draw, they are easy to find at the supply stores
Sounds like this would be cause for bigger concerns if your entire line was sized for 15a.
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