Aint been the same since I drank my thermometer

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e57

e57

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Location
San Francisco, CA
As a sparky one thing that gets me is flickering lights - (along with buzzing) especially in my own home. I can not help myself from instantly starting of diagnosing the problem every time it happens - even if at a friends home, or in a restaurant - anywhere - anything.... It's a compulsion I am sure some of are inflicted with.

Anyway, a few days ago some lights started flickering around the house - I would have to ask and confirm with the wife - "Did the lights flicker? Or did I just blink?" Answer - yep - Flicker.... So last night a dove into the sub panel all those lights were on and look around, have the wife crank up the garbage disposal while I went around with a meter - a little but acceptable .5v voltage drop, no mis-matched amperage's - nothing went up in voltage...... I get done - then it happens again on lights not from that panel - out of the main..... OK - in the morning I go out there and check - yanked my meter - OOOOOOOOO a little corrosion, I'll be doing a service change this next summer - but no real problems - tightened the lugs just for SOP.

Right before I'm going to bed that night - more flicker....

Lost my IR thermometer a while back and just plain ol' left it somewhere - I was driving around today between jobs - thought that's it, better get a new one, and so I did - Fluke 62mini. Got home turned on every light, fan, bath heater, radio and what have you, (Unplugged the 'puter) and started scanning wires, breakers, buss-work - bent over backwards to get some good aim up under the meter section of the main - then the service drop. "It's always the last place you look"

Ambient temp ~65 (65-70 on just about everything)
Phase A
~65 my side ~65 on their side ~65 on the splice
Neutral
Same as above
Phase B
~70 my side -71 their side - 128F on the splice
 
e57 said:
As a sparky one thing that gets me is flickering lights - (along with buzzing) especially in my own home. I can not help myself from instantly starting of diagnosing the problem every time it happens - even if at a friends home, or in a restaurant - anywhere - anything.... It's a compulsion I am sure some of are inflicted with.
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The first step is admitting it.

Help

;)
 
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I think we are all cut from the same cloth, if you go anywhere and the lights flicker and you are not diagnosing it in your head, time for a career change.:smile: I did a job for a psychiatrist once and asked her "when you socialize with people do you find your self diagnosing them ?" and her answer was "yes, you can't help but do that". So I think it is human nature. Although a bad splice on a service drop is a lot easier to fix then "crazy".:D :D
 
acrwc10 said:
Although a bad splice on a service drop is a lot easier to fix then "crazy".
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Depends on the PoCo, now doesn't it? :grin: (And one can lead to the other...)

(And yes, I do the same thing- drove me bat shht when a friend installed some 'flicker' lights for ambiance and when I can tell from the living room that the 'fridge just started.)
 
Got the POCO out - changed them up a little short, but as said I gotta do a service change soon.

When he got here last night (11:30PM) to do it he's like, "why you think its our splice?!" (same ol' finger pointing game I go through at work. So I showed 'em, since I'm not allowed on his ladder I got out my own right next to him. 'See... That one.... Shouldn't be that hot should it?'

When I get some time I'm gonna slice it with a band saw, and see if I can get a good cross-section out of it just for educational purposes
 
e57 said:
When I get some time I'm gonna slice it with a band saw, and see if I can get a good cross-section out of it just for educational purposes
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Brother, you need professional help. You and me can be in group therapy together. Something like the Betty Ford Clinic, but for electricians. Maybe The Mike Holt Clinic?
 
OK I admit I have hydraulic crimped terminals on 600 CU only to split them open with a bandsaw to see how they looked. :smile:
 
iwire said:
OK I admit I have hydraulic crimped terminals on 600 CU only to split them open with a bandsaw to see how they looked. :smile:
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Yeah, I remember that. That was pretty cool. Oh, and you need help. ;)
 
mdshunk said:
Brother, you need professional help. You and me can be in group therapy together. Something like the Betty Ford Clinic, but for electricians. Maybe The Mike Holt Clinic?
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Why not start the Marc Shunk Clinic?
 
Well you convinced me to buy one the the Fluke's. I have a big project with the initial field survey starting Monday. I have to go in every panelboard and check them out. We will be replacing all panelboard interiors and feeders and three new services. Facility is over 40 years and they can't get parts.

RC
 
If you think it's hard being an electrician, try being an inspector and not looking at every little thing everywhere you go.

Sometimes I just have to say, not my problem, not my problem.:cool:
 
I too am one of them always looking at others installs.Only mine are perfect LOL. Keep me away from flea markets, never seen one up to code or even looking like they had an electrician.
 
cowboyjwc said:
If you think it's hard being an electrician, try being an inspector and not looking at every little thing everywhere you go.

Sometimes I just have to say, not my problem, not my problem.:cool:
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Just leave the red tags at home.Fires are a good thing,makes work for both of us.
 
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