Lights flicker when washing machine is on

That is true Robert. I seldom encounter 20 amp duplex receptacles in homes. They are also more robust. I agree, they are usually all specification grade which makes them more robust and of course more expensive. Well, I solved the problem of the pulsating lights today. Or, I should say, a young power company service tech named Matt S.

I phoned Georgia Power about pm and asked if they would have someone check my service coming in from the street. Within three hours of my phone call, Matt had cut a couple of small limbs away and had identified the real problem as squirrels gnawing on the cables, particularly the neutral. At one location on the wire, there were only two strands of the aluminum remaining. And one of the ungrounded conductors fared almost as badly, with three strands remaining under the gnawed sheathing.

That one strand center strand is untouched because the neutral is these triplex cables is ASCR Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced meaning that the center strand is made from galvanized steel which is not as good of a conductor compared to the aluminum. That strand and what is left of the other one that is barely intact was carrying all of the neutral current. Your original problem with the washer was symptomatic of a bad neutral.

Southwire actually makes a product called SquirrelShield Triplex for area where squirrels are a problem. I had a similar problem a few years back with squirrels doing the same thing. Glad to hear that you got it fixed bad neutrals can cause damage to the things in your home. Thanks, Daniel. More specifically, it was loose squirrels honing their choppers on the service cables. Hello…I can see my lights flicker when my washer is on the agitate cycle but not the spin.

How heavily was the washer loaded? I am thinking overload may cause higher amp draw and perhaps enough voltage drop to be visually noticeable. Be sure your images are JPEG. Voted Undo. Score 2. Chosen Solution. Difficult issue. Was this answer helpful? Score 3. Edward Hale efh Rep: 13 1. Posted: July 10 Options Permalink History. Score 1. Posted: September 18 Options Permalink History. Score 0. Add your answer william dodd will be eternally grateful.

This can help you avoid future problems while solving your current flickering problem. There could also be dust or debris that is loosening the bulb.

By taking a can of compressed air, you can blow out the dust or debris that is interfering with the connection. Cleaning out space where the light is in can do wonders for its performance. Going back to the dimmer switches, many people often buy bad switches that are not compatible with the bulbs they are buying. When purchasing a dimmer switch, it is crucial that you ensure it is compatible with LED lights. The same goes for when you are purchasing the bulbs, you have to make sure that they are dimmable.

Besides the aforementioned health issues that flickering LED lights can cause, these lights can also be telling you that there is something seriously wrong. While you may think that the overloaded circuit breaker is only damaging your lights, think again. Homeowners should also beware of loose wiring. Flickering lights in your home is something that happens to everybody on a daily basis. Search for:. View Larger Image.

What are LED lights? Why do LED lights flicker?