Why are the lights dimming in the kitchen when the Fridge kicks on?

[George Stolz]

Julie, not to gang up on you, but given that this is a new house still under 1-year warranty, I'd bet $15 that the kitchen lights are not on the same circuit as the fridge.

Given the abundance of colored romex, it would be a profound error on both the installer and the inspector not to catch such an obvious violation, IMO. White romex running into a fridge receptacle should arouse some curiousity, and it wouldn't be terribly difficult to confirm visually at rough if it was a dedicated home run.

I'd say it's probably just normal voltage drop and a touchy customer. I had several of these, and never put a fridge on the same circuit as the lighting. Usually, it was "my lights dim for a second when the A/C kicks on" and none of the circuits were loaded close to their ampacity.

Drop happens.

 

[stickboy1375]

First, it's a warrantee call on a new home, so I'd start with finding the original prints for wiring that kitchen and making sure someone didn't put a dashed line between the fridge outlet and the lights. Then I'd find the breaker for the fridge, turn it off, and see what else is off. I'd wager $0.05 that the kitchen lights turn off at the same time ...

You get prints on how to wire your homes? I'm lucky if I get prints, period! Even when I do I never get elevations...

 

[tallgirl]

You get prints on how to wire your homes? I'm lucky if I get prints, period! Even when I do I never get elevations...

I always get prints. And when my father was doing houses, he always gave his trades prints. How do you know where anything goes if you don't have prints?!?

Now, I might not get elevations, unless I'm on a framing crew (I'll have to share some piccies from the last house I worked framing crew), but I always get prints in plan view with at least lighting and switches indicated on the print and the locations of all the receptacles marked.

 

[tallgirl]

Julie, not to gang up on you, but given that this is a new house still under 1-year warranty, I'd bet $15 that the kitchen lights are not on the same circuit as the fridge.

Given the abundance of colored romex, it would be a profound error on both the installer and the inspector not to catch such an obvious violation, IMO. White romex running into a fridge receptacle should arouse some curiousity, and it wouldn't be terribly difficult to confirm visually at rough if it was a dedicated home run.

I'm sticking with "someone put the fridge on with the lights". If I'm wrong I'm only out a nickel

It's not like at my house where the bathroom lights dim all the time because that circuit hangs out around 10 to 15A much of the time, it's the kitchen lights dim when the fridge gets turned on.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

Julie, not to gang up on you, but given that this is a new house still under 1-year warranty, I'd bet $15 that the kitchen lights are not on the same circuit as the fridge.

Given the abundance of colored romex, it would be a profound error on both the installer and the inspector not to catch such an obvious violation, IMO. White romex running into a fridge receptacle should arouse some curiousity, and it wouldn't be terribly difficult to confirm visually at rough if it was a dedicated home run.

I'd say it's probably just normal voltage drop and a touchy customer. I had several of these, and never put a fridge on the same circuit as the lighting. Usually, it was "my lights dim for a second when the A/C kicks on" and none of the circuits were loaded close to their ampacity.

Drop happens.

All lighting and SA could be #12 nothing says we must use 14-2 for anything.I assume nothing even on a new home.Inspectors might not caught everything.Untill they get there all we can do is guess.This frig causing the problem might be pluged into a garage outlet that also is lights.While i always got a set of prints they never said what goes on what circuit ,just where the wanted an outlet or switch.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

I'm sticking with "someone put the fridge on with the lights". If I'm wrong I'm only out a nickel

It's not like at my house where the bathroom lights dim all the time because that circuit hangs out around 10 to 15A much of the time, it's the kitchen lights dim when the fridge gets turned on.

I will put a nickel on this with you

 

[iwire]

Julie, not to gang up on you, but given that this is a new house still under 1-year warranty, I'd bet $15 that the kitchen lights are not on the same circuit as the fridge.

I got your back George. I would look for any issues from the panel back toward the utility.

I highly doubt a new home would have such a DIY error if it was wired by an EC.

 

[allenwayne]

I wasn`t trying to gang up on anyone.But the Op didn`t mention a j- man going with.I tend to think that if it is a new home under a warranty then the problem is most likely a loose connection.First place I would look is the neutral bar in the panel.Info about a problem can save allot of needless time.Does this only happen when the fridge kicks in ??? What about the range,elec. heat, A/C etc.I`ll bet a dime it`s a loose set screw on the neutral bar.

Julie do you really think there are as builts for a house ??? I did work for one company that required them but they only did high line customs 8,000 sq +.The standard home just gets a print not an as built.

 

[iwire]

How do you know where anything goes if you don't have prints?!?

Back when I used to do a lot of condos we did not get electrical prints, we would get an Architectural print.

How did we know where anything goes?

We are electricians, we know the the codes and as these condos where all bare bones overpriced dwelling units all we need to know was the code.

 

[romeo]

Why are the lights dimming in the kitchen when the fridge kicks on?

Why are the lights dimming in the kitchen when the fridge kicks on?

Julie, not to gang up on you, but given that this is a new house still under 1-year warranty, I'd bet $15 that the kitchen lights are not on the same circuit as the fridge.

Given the abundance of colored romex, it would be a profound error on both the installer and the inspector not to catch such an obvious violation, IMO. White romex running into a fridge receptacle should arouse some curiousity, and it wouldn't be terribly difficult to confirm visually at rough if it was a dedicated home run.

I'd say it's probably just normal voltage drop and a touchy customer. I had several of these, and never put a fridge on the same circuit as the lighting. Usually, it was "my lights dim for a second when the A/C kicks on" and none of the circuits were loaded close to their ampacity.

Drop happens.

I agree,but it would be a good idea to check for loose connections at the panel.

 

[allenwayne]

I always get prints. And when my father was doing houses, he always gave his trades prints. How do you know where anything goes if you don't have prints?!?

Now, I might not get elevations, unless I'm on a framing crew (I'll have to share some piccies from the last house I worked framing crew), but I always get prints in plan view with at least lighting and switches indicated on the print and the locations of all the receptacles marked.

If I had a dime for every print I saw that didn`t meet code I would be rich by now . On a standard tract home all I need is some info. Where are the C/F`S going where are the switched receptacles and if there are recessed cans what is the lay out.Oh and lets not forget where is the chime located.I had one builder that offered a 2nd floor bonus room option.But when this option was chosen the print showed the chime in the bonus room, above the garage.So when it was wired the chime went where the print showed it.The builder asked why on earth would the chime be in the bonus room ????? because your plan shows it there You paid for one chime and that is what you have one chime.If the plan showed it in the garage guess what that is where it will be.

 

[tallgirl]

Back when I used to do a lot of condos we did not get electrical prints, we would get an Architectural print.

How did we know where anything goes?

We are electricians, we know the the codes and as these condos where all bare bones overpriced dwelling units all we need to know was the code.

Somehow "bare bones" and "overpriced" don't seem to go together.

To answer Allen's question, my father was a full-custom builder, but even with the tract homes I've bought, and the Habitat houses I've wired, we got electrical plans. I guess some builders scrimp even on the amount of paper they print for their trades.

 

[electricmanscott]

White romex running into a fridge receptacle should arouse some curiousity

Not really as a 15 amp individual circuit is allowed to feed the fridge outlet.


Also I can't think of one house that I have wired that had an electrical print.
I preffer it that way as I like to do things my way. I don't need a piece of paper telling me what to do. Me and person in charge are competent enough..I think..to come up with a good layout.

Since it was my comment that was deleted (oops) I'll just say in defense of myself the question made it appear as though a first year apprentice was going on a service call alone. I don't care what the rules are that is not right and as I stated does a diservice to our trade.

Knowing the wholse situation now it is commendable that you are going above and beyond by actually taking the initiatve to learn something. Based on what i see evereyday out there unfortunately this is not the norm. Good luck!

 

[tallgirl]

If I had a dime for every print I saw that didn`t meet code I would be rich by now .

You need a better quality of architect. Even my kid brother, who does commercial architectural work, knows code.

But, yes, I understand some prints can be wrong as all get out, and sometimes crews aren't any better.

 

[bikeindy]

Back when I used to do a lot of condos we did not get electrical prints, we would get an Architectural print.

How did we know where anything goes?

We are electricians, we know the the codes and as these condos where all bare bones overpriced dwelling units all we need to know was the code.

We do just a few new homes a year but they are 5000 Sf and larger. We don't get electrical prints for one reason, I go through the home with the owner and we lay it out the way they want it, only marking rec that they want in specific locations, I go back after this and fill in the "holes" making sure all code issues for spacing are met. Lighting is such a personal thing to people so we spend a lot of time talking about lighting lay out. After I have spent a half day or more with the owner I take a blank print and mark it up and draw an "as we will build plan" This process takes a bit longer but the owners are more than happy and are never asking, "Why did the electrician put that switch there?" I had one customer that had 12 switches in the master bedroom for lighting set of 3 at each side of the bed a set of 3 at the entry to the room and a set of 3 at the bathroom entry. Was it over kill? not to them, and they didn't want any RA stuff.

 

[iwire]

Somehow "bare bones" and "overpriced" don't seem to go together.

I agree entirely, you could not have given me one of these places.

But many people are willing to pay a premium to live in the city of Boston.

These condos would be code minimum equipped with electric baseboard heating system.

So...along with a high mortgage and a high monthly condo fee you get the pleasure of high heating bills and if you happen to want a reserved parking space an additional $150-$300 per month.

 

[George Stolz]

We'd usually have prints, but they would not show the circuit layout, just the desired receptacle layout and lighting loops (i.e. which are together and with which switch).

Such a print would not show a fridge on with the lighting.

It's been quite a curve getting used to commercial prints (dictating circuit layout), I'm still struggling with it after months in commercial.

 

[brian john]

Since it was my comment that was deleted (oops) I'll just say in defense of myself the question made it appear as though a first year apprentice was going on a service call alone. I don't care what the rules are that is not right and as I stated does a diservice to our trade.

While I tend to agree with this statement, and I would never send a 1st year apprentice/helper to do a service call. I must admit the company I was working for in 1970 did that to me, with 1 year expierence. This was an apartment complex that had apartments wired by over 100 differnet electricians. The builder and electrical contractor (one and the same) were going bankrupt and had 1000's of wiring issues with the apartments. I learned so much about trrouble shooting, snaking in wires, resolving problems. I also think all I did was to NEC as I read the book every chance I could to verify what I was doing met code. I was scared and nervous for the first few weeks, but it was a real learning expierence I doubt I could have gotten anywhere else. Did this for almost a year,

 

[iwire]

It's been quite a curve getting used to commercial prints (dictating circuit layout), I'm still struggling with it after months in commercial.

It will become your friend as later down the road when your turning stuff on and it does not work (hey we all make mistakes) you can look to the print for help.

Much to the displeasure of those under my direction I will rarely change circuit numbers from those indicated on the prints.

Times I will make changes with notations are times when the same circuit number was obviously mistakenly used more than once.

If the engineer has shown 3 to 5 outlets per circuit and all of a sudden I find two home run symbols to the same circuit and the outlets total 6 to 10 I feel safe assuming that was a mistake.

 

[iwire]

Since it was my comment that was deleted (oops) I'll just say in defense of myself the question made it appear as though a first year apprentice was going on a service call alone. I don't care what the rules are that is not right and as I stated does a diservice to our trade.

Scott it was not just you, I took out a few.

The problem is everyone starts jumping on the bandwagon and will end up chasing off a new member who wants to learn....that is not right.

As far as the rest there are still quite a few states without licensing requirements and while I agree that is not good for our trade it does not make those that operate in those states wrong.