# what could be wrong with the lights in my house? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157 "2005-12-11T19:15:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/1 "2005-12-11T19:15:38Z")
My father put a new outlet in the other day, and ever since then I’ve experienced a periodic strange behavior with my lights. It didn’t start until two days after the outlet was put in, and it’s intermittent. What’s happening is the lights are dimming and getting brighter rapidly–like they are flickering, but they never go all the way off. The flickering is fairly rapid though, several cycles of bright/dim per minute. My PCs, stereo, and TV don’t seem to be affected, but the flickering lights can be annoying. The problem comes and goes, and I checked with the neighbors and the power company to make sure no one else in the area is having the same problem. Anyone ever experience this before? ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/2 "2005-12-11T19:16:42Z")
Hey…my lights are doing that, too. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/3 "2005-12-11T19:21:42Z")
If the outlet is in the same circuit as the lights, then one of the connections is likely faulty. Hopefully he used the screw terminals on the sides of the duplex and not the backstab holes which are notorious for poor connections. Also, if the lighting circuit is separate, but passes through that device box, check for a wire nut which may have been disturbed. ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/4 "2005-12-11T19:28:04Z")
It’s happening to all of the lights in the house, on both floors plus the basement. Could all of the lights really be on the same circuit? ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/5 "2005-12-11T20:56:33Z")
> [@batsto](#): > > It’s happening to all of the lights in the house, on both floors plus the basement. Could all of the lights really be on the same circuit? They shouldn’t be, but you never know what someone may have done w/o a permit and inspection. This has the potential for a fire danger, I’d advise you get an electrician to check it asap. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/6 "2005-12-11T21:12:14Z")
Our of curiosity, what did you plug into the new outlet? Something like a refrigerator with a compressor might be putting a large load on your circuits and reducing the voltage. ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/7 "2005-12-11T21:24:17Z")
There isn’t anything at all plugged into the outlet. It could be coincidence that the outlet was installed two days before the problem started I guess. It just seemed odd that we never had the problem before. It only does it once every couple of days or so, usually not for more than an hour or so too. ---
**Author:** ![SpectBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@SpectBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpectBrain)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/8 "2005-12-11T22:57:44Z")
Many years ago we had a problem such as you describe. It was explained to us that it was a loose neutral connection. Someone from the power company had to come out and fix it. (This was in an almost new house.) Is this an old house with aluminum wiring? ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/9 "2005-12-11T23:16:05Z")
Plug a light into the new outlet as a test light, then turn off the breakers, or unscrew the fuses in your electric panel, one by one, until the test light goes out. If the other lights, the ones that have been blinking, are still on then you will know that the installation of the new outlet is unrelated to the problem. If you discover that the outlet IS on the same circuit with the lights, then you need to remove the cover of the outlet and check the wires to see if any are loose. NOTE, do this while the power is OFF to the outlet, ie: the test lamp is plugged in but not lit. I must emphasize that there is a potential fire danger, do not ignore this problem. ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/10 "2005-12-11T23:22:58Z")
thanks for the help everyone. I will have the electric company out tomorrow to check on the neutral. ---
**Author:** ![LiQUiDBuD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@LiQUiDBuD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiQUiDBuD)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/11 "2005-12-12T03:57:18Z")
Anecdote: I encountered a problem quite similar to this last weekend while helping an electrician friend of mine. The customer was getting voltage drops quite regularly and lights were dimming all the time. It turned out that the neutral lug in the interior circuit panel had lots of oxidation on it which caused the line to try and “find” a neutral. Therefore, the voltage was arcing from the neutral lug into the actual panel box, and from there finding ground through the ground rod. Definitely a serious fire hazard, not to mention a pain in the butt for the homeowners (it sure would have been if they had touched the panel box while arcing was taking place). Call the power company with no delay, you don’t want to pee your pants as 200 amps courses through your body, nor do you want a burned down house. Hope they find the problem! LiQUiDBuD ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/12 "2005-12-12T12:46:19Z")
> [@LiQUiDBuD](#): > > you don’t want to pee your pants as 200 amps courses through your body I agree being electrocuted is not a fun experience. But there’s no way 200 amps will flow through your body when subjected to household AC voltages. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/13 "2005-12-12T13:31:51Z")
> [@A.R. Cane](#): > > Plug a light into the new outlet as a test light, then turn off the breakers, or unscrew the fuses in your electric panel, one by one, until the test light goes out. A more prectical means is to use a radio. You can hear it from the electrical panel if you turn it up loud enough. With a light, you’ll need to do a lot of walking or have another person help you. > [@](#): > > I must emphasize that there is a potential fire danger, do not ignore this problem. I agree. Sounds like a nuetral issue to me also, especially if the lights dim. It the lights went out entirely, or flashed on and off, I’d suggest the hot wire is loose. Loose nuetrals tend to cause dimming and other unusual behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/14 "2005-12-12T13:34:11Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I agree being electrocuted is not a fun experience. But there’s no way 200 amps will flow through your body when subjected to household AC voltages. Right. Milliamps are painful enough. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/15 "2005-12-12T15:29:06Z")
Does it [play music](http://www.snopes.com/photos/arts/xmaslights.asp) at the same time? ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/16 "2005-12-13T18:57:26Z")
I am aware that humor is frowned upon in GQ, but one of my favorite jokes seems very appropriate at this time: **What’s brown and crispy and hangs from the ceiling?** An amateur electrician. Take care. ---
**Author:** ![LiQUiDBuD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@LiQUiDBuD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiQUiDBuD)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-the-lights-in-my-house/335157/17 "2005-12-14T03:18:44Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I agree being electrocuted is not a fun experience. But there’s no way 200 amps will flow through your body when subjected to household AC voltages. Maybe I need to clarify my post, the neutral was arcing from the \*\*meter base \*\*into the \*\*interior breaker panel \*\* meaning that all the excess amperage from the main service was going through the interior breaker panel. That’s definitely more than your normal amperage/current from sticking your fingers in an electrical outlet. LiQUiDBuD