Updated almost 9 years ago on . Most recent reply
Lights flickering in 2 rentals
#2 Contractors Contributor
- Severna Park, MD
I got a call from a good tenant . he describes how when they start the dryer all the lights dim in the house , then they will flicker for a while . He wants me to call an electrician , I tell him I will look at it first , he was dead on in what he said . So I had a thought , let me check the house next door , so I went in and turned on the lights and then the dryer , it did the same thing . I check another building on a separate meter on the property , yup it is acting funny . I stop by 2 neighbors , they have noticed the same thing . So I tell them to turn off all electronics , even the heat if its controlled by a board . Everyone was like why? Well I suspect its broken neutral on the supply line , if I am right you could toast electronics , and if there is too much draw on the line it could fry electrical panels or worse .
Called Balto gas and electric .. they were there in 1/2 hour ................ I was right , a broken neutral on the main feeder . 5 houses were using electric with no neutral .
Floating neutral wire of a broken neutral is a very serious problem
Most Popular Reply
#2 Contractors Contributor
- Severna Park, MD
No I am not an electrician . But I am a contractor , I have dealt with electrical problems . Simple checks with an electrical tester and multi meter and I determined WHAT the problem was . I then had to find the source of the problem , Then by checking the properties that are fed off the same pole and determining they had the SAME problem told me the problem was on the utility company side .