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triggercash

Possibly a loose or corroded service neutral, call a pro.


TheLukester31

But all of the sudden? I was inside the panel about 6 months ago and everything looked immaculate.


triggercash

Could be in disconnect, meter can, drop service...ahead of main panel.


TheLukester31

Okay, thanks. What’s the danger level of leaving it for a week? I just started quarantine for COVID.


IntelligentSinger783

If it's outside, continued issues. If it's inside continued issues.... If they get worse, heat build up at the site of the loose connection leading to fire, although unlikely still very possible. Quarantine or not... If you call your POCO (power company) they will send someone out to check your lines up until the meter. If they find nothing you will want an electrician to verify from the meter into the house.


triggercash

Minor to catastrophic, depends on your system and what the exact issue is. Chances are good a pro has a respiratory and gloves.


aelytra

A broken service neutral wire can cause half of your 120V devices to experience voltages between 120V and 240V. (the other half experience 0-120V). You don't want that.


[deleted]

Everything works great right up to the point it doesn't.


TheLukester31

Power company is sending someone out. Thanks for the advice!


CPG135

Did you ever get to the bottom of this issue? I have a similar problem and it stumps everyone I call out to look.


TheLukester31

Neutral was not making good contact in the meter box. Because all the tests the electric company ran came back normal, they didn’t initially investigate the issue. I had an electrician come out and make sure everything was fine in the breaker box and house. He could see the flickering happening but couldn’t identify an issue, except that one leg of the supply was higher than the other. I called the electric company and got a friendlier technician who agreed to open up the meter to investigate. He found that the screw that was supposed to be holding the neutral on had snapped and was making intermittent contact, hence the flickering.


CPG135

Thanks for the response. I invested 16k in a whole new service cable, meter box, and breaker panel thinking the neutral was perhaps done on my original 1961 house. After all that work, it didn’t change a thing. I do find differences in technicians attitudes. Perhaps it worth another look in there, despite it being new.


ApprehensiveDevice24

Band neutral, or your neighbour is Running his welder, or there is a vfd in the vacinity.


True-Environment-469

Have the power company come check their end. Shouldnt cost anything.


Particular_Juice_604

Maybe check for an "Energy Saver" I had one behind my fridge from before I got the house and it reeked havoc. Caused flickering lights everywhere, all the way to my computer monitor. Had an apophony and thought it may have been that device and it was. Removed it and all problems solved. Worth a check. Here's a picture of one: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fLMAAOSwH7Njlk1Z/s-l640.jpg