Butta Dawg
Member
- Location
- Long Island
- Occupation
- Electrician
Went to my in laws to have a look at their panel after they complained about lights dimming. Noticed it would be during in rushes, like central air, or the microwave turning on. When I checked the panel, I found 117v on one feeder leg to neutral/ ground and 126v on the other. I opened all the breakers except the main. The legs balanced out to 122v/124v per leg. I closed the breakers one by one, checking the voltage after each one. Some breakers made the voltage spread apart more. Ex, 121v and 126v. So I opened those breakers again and skipped them, going to others and checking the voltage after each closed breaker. At some point, i had checked the voltage and it was fine, 122v/124v. Then after closing a breaker, the voltage went 114v-116v one leg to 126v-130v on the other. I re- opened the breaker and the voltage remained the same. I open all the breakers, voltage goes back to 122v/123v each leg. So I have a loose neutral in the panel? Or even on a branch circuit? I didn't get to continue watching the voltage as they wanted to make dinner and it was getting late. Plan on going back, but right now, I'm guessing I have a loose neutral somewhere in the panel side, due to the voltage balancing after opening all breakers. Any ideas?
