Concerned about electrical

[matt151617]

We just moved in to a house, and we've had a few weird electrical issues. First was a computer; it worked fine at the old house, but once we tried to turn it on at the new house, it's dead. It refuses to power on and the motherboard isn't getting power from the power supply. Second, one of our cell phones won't charge. It displays as charging but drains the battery. It never did that before, and charges fine in a car or someplace else with the same charger. Third, the can lights seems to flicker a lot, but the dimmer switches are pretty old. Last, the fridge suddenly won't get cold. It's been running continuously and never gets below 50 degrees. The fridge is 20 years old, but I find it suspicious it suddenly died once we moved in and started using more electricity. The house has been unoccupied since March. I also will note we have a minifridge and chest freezer in the garage, both of which are functioning and holding their temperature just fine.

I've checked the voltage at various outlets and get a steady 118-122 range. I pulled the panel cover (has an install date sticker of 1961), everything looks fine visually. I'm can't check the lug tightness of the service entrance obviously with a meter in place.

I'm concerned about a possible loose neutral or something else bad going on here; where should I start? Call the power company to check everything on their end? Or go straight to an electrician?

 

[pattenp]

Check the voltage with a load. Plug something in an outlet that uses a lot of power, hair dryer, toaster, etc., turn it on and check the voltage at the other outlet while the item is powered on. Do it on outlets that you seem to be having problems and see if the voltage maintains at the 118-122 range. You can do the same in the panel testing the 240V with something like an oven turned on.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Strange stuff for sure.
I'd start with an outlet tester. Less than $10 and quick way to test each outlet.

Refrigerators don't like being moved (best to leave them sit awhile after moving) and a few of mine didn't last 20 yrs.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Do u have a DMM?

 

[matt151617]

I will check the voltages again under load, and I did test with a digital multimeter. Fridge was included with the house, wasn't moved.

I called the power company and they came immediately out. The guy was really nice, talked to me about the various issues and was also concerned about a loose neutral. He replaced the entire drop from the street and said the neutral had pretty bad corrosion on both ends. He recommended I have an electrician check the line from the weatherhead to the meter and the meter in to the panel to rule out any other corrosion issues.

 

[rlitman]

...First was a computer; it worked fine at the old house, but once we tried to turn it on at the new house, it's dead. It refuses to power on and the motherboard isn't getting power from the power supply. Second, one of our cell phones won't charge. It displays as charging but drains the battery. It never did that before, and charges fine in a car or someplace else with the same charger...

Computers are fragile. Perhaps something was damaged in moving. Now if you were to plug it in elsewhere and it worked, then I'd be more convinced.

As for the charger, please don't tell me that the same charger works in your car, but doesn't work in the wall.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Check the cooling fan under the refrig. They can **** a piece of trash in them and keep everything from getting cold. I go along with check with DMM under load and see if you can find anything. Looks like the PCO have stepped up and fixed the most likely thing.

 

[matt151617]

Computer was wrapped properly and didn't even enter the moving truck (stayed in the car). First thing I did was vacuum under the fridge, lots of dust but no change in temperature.

Lights are no longer flickering after the lineman replaced the wires.

I get a steady 120.0, turning on a toaster shows 118.8 on the same outlet.

The lineman mentioned we could file a claim for the fridge and computer, but he didn't know the specifics. Has anyone ever tried this?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Computer was wrapped properly and didn't even enter the moving truck (stayed in the car). First thing I did was vacuum under the fridge, lots of dust but no change in temperature.

Lights are no longer flickering after the lineman replaced the wires.

I get a steady 120.0, turning on a toaster shows 118.8 on the same outlet.

The lineman mentioned we could file a claim for the fridge and computer, but he didn't know the specifics. Has anyone ever tried this?

Is the compressor running?

If not could be bad capacitor...

I have not personally but have heard of people doing so and getting money.

However, this is highly dependent on the specific PoCo.

Sounds like you may have had a high resistant neutral which is just as bad as an open neutral...

 

[sberry]

I woulda jerked the meter while he was working on the connections. A lot of poor connections in the base.

 

[matt151617]

I woulda jerked the meter while he was working on the connections. A lot of poor connections in the base.

The lineman pulled the meter after replacing the overhead to re-seat it and check the wiring inside.

Should I be concerned about any residual damage to the wiring now that this seems to be resolved?

 

[sberry]

I am not sure why he suggest further inspection of a meter base he looked at but if he looked all should be well. This kind of thing doesn't hurt wire but can mess with equipment, if it works all is probably well.

 

[matt151617]

I am not sure why he suggest further inspection of a meter base he looked at but if he looked all should be well. This kind of thing doesn't hurt wire but can mess with equipment, if it works all is probably well.

He said he suggest further inspection because it's possible there was other corrosion on my wiring (which he can't inspect).

Good to know. On another note, since it looks like I'm dealing with equipment original to the house (1961), should I consider replacing the meter can, weatherhead, service entrance wire, etc?

 

[Zeke]

He said he suggest further inspection because it's possible there was other corrosion on my wiring (which he can't inspect).

Good to know. On another note, since it looks like I'm dealing with equipment original to the house (1961), should I consider replacing the meter can, weatherhead, service entrance wire, etc?

Well, you could but I'd want to know why I was doing that before throwing money at the problem that you have no idea was it is specifically. If the lineman pulled the meter, he could see the connections from the weatherhead to meter. And I assume he could see the connections to your busses. Now you just need to first check the neutrals at the neutral buss and then the individual circuits.

If you are not comfortable with reaching into a hot panel, then please don't. You can throw the main, but there's still a potential. Get an electrician to look it over if you wish and follow him around while he makes his assessment. Then get back here. Lot of guys will advise you to do a lot of work that may not be necessary. Selling up.