Why do my lights flicker at home?

Posted by on . 5 comments.


I recently had a pool and spa installed, and now when I am in my bathroom and am using a vacuum or my blow dryer, the lights constantly flicker. Can someone explain the details about electricity usage in a home and why this is happening?



Comments

  1. Uncle Red says:
    October 8, 2009 at 9:53 am

    The first answer is close,
    Your main line is running close to its limit.
    This is determined by the length of the drop from the main power line. You may not be able to upgrade your service by just installing a larger distribution panel.
    The problem is, say your drop is 80 feet and the size of that line is rated maximum 100 amps at that length. Now if you have a 100 amp service you are at your end. you need a larger Gauge cable from the Power company connection that will allow up to 250 amps.
    What you are seeing is a lack of power. and poor circuit balance in the distribution panel (breaker panel)
    Look at it this way,
    take a straw and drink some Kool-Aid (oh YA) now split that small straw and put another straw on the same one allowing two to draw from the glass. I guarantee you will be sucking a lot harder to overcome the other person who is also drinking off your straw. So in short your distribution panel is suckin hard to get enough juice to light lights. and they are the most noticable item.
    If the lack of power is too great you can damage your 220 equipment.
    Call an electrician and have them do a review of your system. You may be able to just upgrade your panel, but you may have to replace your drop from the power company…

  2. regerugged says:
    October 8, 2009 at 9:53 am

    Your circuits are overloaded. You may have to upgrade your service panel. If it is 100 amp, you may need 200 amp.

  3. jellybean says:
    October 8, 2009 at 9:53 am

    You have too much power hooked up to one circuit.

  4. luka says:
    October 8, 2009 at 9:53 am

    apparently whoever installed your pool,and spa connected the electricity to a line already in use,they should have ran a separate line,now when you use the hairdryer or vacuum, you are getting a flicker because the line is overloaded.

  5. John himself says:
    October 8, 2009 at 9:53 am

    This is pretty normal and not hurting a thing. I take it the light flickers only when you start the vacuum or blow dryer and then stops flickering while you use them? When you start up something that used lots of power like a vacuum, it takes a bunch of power to start, then levels off. That "in rush" current causes a short lived voltage drop, causing the lights to dim for a split second, "flicker". If the circuit breakers or fuses are not tripping, and they are the correct size, you have nothing to worry about. It is simply annoying. This can be fixed, but at a price. It involves installing a larger wire on that circuit to limit the voltage drop. Did you ask the electrician who installed the pool and spa about it yet? I hope this helps.

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