curious problem

[Len Shure]

About 4 oclock in the morning the bride wakes me up and says there is no power in the bedroom. I walk down the hcall and there is no pwoer in the hall either. But there is power in the living room but no power in the bathroom or basement. That is 3 circuit that don't work and one that does. I check the circuit breakers they are fine. Walk up the stairs, tell the bride I don't know. Then she turns and reaches over to the thermostat. Turns on the airconditoner and Holy Smokes the lights come on. Does anyone have any idea of what caused this? Maybe ghost?

[G Henslee]

Please let us know what the elctrician finds.

[toller]

I didn't answer at first because I don't really know what your problem is, and I wanted to see what other people said.

Since you haven't gotten any answers, I will give it my best guess... I think there is something wrong with your neutral connection. The 3 circuits that didn't work had a bad neutral connection, so there was no complete circuit. When the A/C came on that gave them a complete circuit.

I freely admit that this isn't a completely satisfactory answer (ie. why did one circuit work?), but if it is correct you have an extremely serious problem that must be corrected immediately. But unless someone else has a better explanation, you should get an electrician in as quickly as possible.

[Rick]

pwoer in

lights

ghost?

Sounds like one side of the line has a loose connection at the service drop, meter, or panel. A heavy startup load (I'm assuming central air,

240 volts) may have arced it enough to conduct. Best check it, and soon.

[Rudy]

SOON, Right ! A friends home, 19 years old, had some similar "oddities" going on with his electrical. He ignored it a few days, planning to 'get around to it' on the weekend and then the "big one" hit. A loose connection on the neutral side of his panel finally gave out and blew out half (left side) of panel circuits-his appliances etc. The power utility guys came and checked their setup (to the meter) but that was OK. They showed him the arc blackened white wire in his panel that caused it all.. Working well now but it cooked his new ( 3 months) ceramic top range, fridge, new micro, cordless phone and security system panel..all shot.

His Big screen TV/ent center and the other odds & ends in the home were OK (other side of panel)

"Soon" might mean TODAY

R

[kato]

Check the main breaker in your service pamel, it may be faulty.

[G Henslee]

No it's not.

[vernal888]

Hello Len:

I had a similar mystery that turned out to be a faulty connection within the transformer on the utility pole that fed electricity to the house. Our local utility company responded promptly and diagnosed and fixed the problem. HOWEVER, they were so responsive only because an electrician had come out first and ruled out any malfunctions with the service panel and circuit panel. The electrician tested the breakers, felt for warm wires and breakers, and inspected for dried or damaged wire insulation. He also tested power levels at various outlets and pronounced everything normal. It was an hour charge and ultimately worth the peace of mind. And it got the utility company out more quickly.

[MUADIB®]

I had simlar issues in the home I last lived in. Turned out to be the transformer on the pole outside was bad. I could turn on any "large" appliance and it would make everything work til the next time the house supply was under tiny load.............It blew up my microwave prematurely (the display quit). Drove me nuts for about a year and a half til I nailed it down, as it was very intermittent when it quit like that. Might be four or five months before it would quit, and when I started trouble shooting, it'd just clear up and work fine for another few months.................worth a shot anyway.

Next time it does the dead circuit thing, try a different multiphase appliance and see what happens. Might just be a loose connection too. but It sounds very much like a transformer problem to me.

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[CL (dnoyeB) Gilbert]

From what I read on these forums it also sounds to me like a loose neutral. But its not that tht A/C is giving them a 'complete' circuit. its more that the A/C is altering the voltage on the circuits allowing enough voltage variation for the devices to start working. Or something to that effect.

Electricial is required.

[Pagan]

I had a problem like this in a recently remodeled bathroom. One day I go in, turn on the light, and nothing. Same goes with the heater. However, when I turn on the shower light, everything else magically comes on.

I knew better than to fiddle with this myself, so I call my trusty electrician, and he finds a junction box with a loose connection, which caused arcing and such. He hands me a couple crispy wires and wire nuts.

Had there not been a box there, the house might have gone up like a match. The contractor who did the bathroom wanted to use Romex, and had to redo the wiring when I insisted on metal conduit, as per my city code.

Anyway, you really want to call an electrician, and now.

Pagan

[CL (dnoyeB) Gilbert]

"Electrician" is required. ASAP.

The 'neutral' line is also connected to the 'ground' line in your home. If the neutral is loose to the pole, you have the potential and the likelyhood of seeing voltage on the ground line. Very dangrous situation.

[prototech]

I repair microwave oven displays, in case you still need help.

I repair the control panels / circuit boards to component level for $32.50 in most cases.

See

for details. I also have links on that page to do-it-yourself tips, maniufacturer and parts contacts, etc.

Thanks.

[MUADIB®]

I took a look at your website about 6 months back from some other posting you made (or maybe someone else made it. I was very tempted to send the board out of mine to have it repaired and waitd too long. It grew a temp related short and kept blowng those ceramic fuses (not cheap) and I decided it would be in my best interest to go buy a new Corn popper (microwave) since that one was abot 7 years old. I put it out on the street and someone came by and collected it.

I do truely appreciate the offer. I am just an instant gratification person (and my wife would likely have wnated a divorce by the time I sent it to the shop)

Thanks

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