should I call in an Electrician for this?

[MD11]

We have a 15 year old home, normal track type... the electrical is fine all except in the master bedroom where the lights will sometimes VERY faintly flicker.... almost imperceptible but if for example I run my laser printer, which is a larger model, then they'll do it a bit more... This isn't the strobe type flicker but more of a fading and returning of power and some times it seems to occur on a set time interval...

Is this a case of a dangerous bad connection? or just a high draw maybe and the subsequent flicker?

 

[cowboyjosh]

I'd maybe check the connections, especially if the switches or outlets are backstabbed. A licensed EC will be more then happy to check everything over and it is indeed worth paying for a service call if the lights in the MBR are the only ones in the house flickering. As for the laser printer, it is normal for those to cause the lights to dim and flicker when they operate, mine causes the lights in my office to flicker and dim and it irritates the **** out of me, but aside from running a dedicated breaker for the laser printer, its just something to live with.

 

[nehog]

What size breaker on the bedroom circuits? 15 Amp? Wired with what, 14 AWG or 12 AWG? A laser printer will draw as much as 15 amps for short periods of time while printing and/or warming up, and I'd guess that is what you are seeing.

 

[Roots]

A laser printer will draw as much as 15 amps for short periods of time while printing and/or warming up, and I'd guess that is what you are seeing.

I had no idea they could draw that much amperage. Learn something new every day

 

[Bubbles]

I would pull all the plugs first and check the connections. If one is loose you will see arc marks on the plug in, you will probably see the plug melted a bit. I happened to me with the plug I had on the deep freeze, it wasn't completely tight and would arc every time The unit cut in. Don't ignore it mine was black when I pulled it and replaced the plug.

 

[MD11]

thanks for all the tips guys.. preciate it..

 

[cderalow]

I had no idea they could draw that much amperage. Learn something new every day

it is common in commercial office buildings to wire dedicated circuits for larger laser printers and copiers.

I don't know that the common household size lasers draw that much amperage. a slightly larger small business sized color laser might though.

 

[MD11]

I'm going to go thru each plug one by one and check the connections, thanks a lot folks.

 

[breakfasteatre]

check neutral connections as well, even the main neutral at the panel