So I called up an electrician to check this out for a quote and do some minor repairs. The electric company advised contacting the utility company. They had installed a new panel earlier so they had my system documented. They said, "70/30, it was usually because of a utility issue". Sure enough, the utility company came out, same day and found a weak neutral line. They replaced a few connections on the poles. Hoping that things are finished up today, and no out of pocket expenses for the repair. Flickering lights? Call the utility company first.
Yeah, wash is running right now and the lights are still flickering. I guess they didn't have a chance to come back out today. I will probably give them another day and follow up.
So, the saga continues. The electric company replaced 2 connections on the poles and they left. The electric guys came out for some unrelated work and started looking into the flickering (that was still going on). It turns out the big fat wire from end of the utility connection and before the meter is wearing in and causing the flickering. It is probably 30 years old. The guys said the power dropped down to 85 volts when the dryer would start. This is my responsibility (I guess) so I have to get a replacement. They said it would be all conduit. That sounds pretty good. Probably about 1k and a whole day of work.
Hmmm.... I've always thought the homeowner's responsibility was from the meter to the panel and beyond.
I agree with you guys. It is before the meter. I can call the utility company but I don't think they will make the change. The electrician said they used to cover that but they don't any longer. The part in question snakes along the siding and is fastened to the house. It is not in good shape so I am glad to have it fixed, one way or another.
The power company here only does the meter itself and the wire from the house to the pole. Usually there is a splice at the service mast on the house and that's as far as the electric company goes. On a new house the service mast, wire down to the meter box and wire into the house/circuit breaker box has to be ready, which includes a signed off inspection before they'll run the wire from the pole to the splice at the service mast. An electrician that does this work often will know how to replace the wire from the splice without shutting the power off.
That makes perfect sense. The guys I spoke with said it would be a whole day without power. Sounds kinda stupid if you ask me. Set up the lines and then switch it over when you are all done. I don't get these guys, I might find someone else to do the work...
I don't think switching lines will work unless there is a whole new route. There's usually only room for one line thru a service mast ( if you have one, I don't) and then room for just one line thru the hole in the building framing. A whole day seems a bit bizarre unless you have a complicated setup. Is there a long list of things that need to be updated due to current codes ?
Had something real similar happen to n old residence years ago. Inside the meter box, aluminum conductors were used. From the power company tie in at the peak (non-masthead setup) down to the box was the all new and improved, lower cost, just as good as copper....... but aluminum....not copper. One whole leg had corroded off completely at the meter so the house was only 120 VAC instead of 240 VAC. And it had started with flickering lights also.
So the line comes off the pole and connects to the corner of the house. At the corner, it switches from the suspended wire to a different cable. This cable is attached to my siding and then drops 12-15 feet to the box. This cable is the one that needs to be replaced. It is drooping, the plastic looks pretty dry and has little cracks on it, etc. I need to have someone replace it with a new cable. I think the conduit is a newer requirement but I like that idea. The cable is fully outside the house and the connection where it goes through the wall into the box will remain the same.
Sounds a bit like my house, just a hook and a splice. If I ever have to have it replaced I'm pretty sure I have to have a mast put on the house and a new box because mine doesn't have a cutout for a mast pipe. Luckily my meter box is right under the hook. I have no idea what it would cost. I'm having a home heating oil tank replaced and it is three times what I thought it would be. :-(
This is a pretty common setup...and should not take a whole day to replace...even with installing conduit. As you probably already know, aluminum wiring installed in many houses in the 70's and early 80's has been the cause of many fires over the years...it can be safely used, but all the correct connectors and components must be used!
I spoke with a different electrician on this and he mentioned that there is frequently a leaky connector seal between the incoming pipe and the utility box. Water will seep in, and corrode the pipe, all the way into the breakers. That sounds pretty dangerous. The guy said he repaired several of these in the last 2 months.
