Residential electrical issue - any advice?

[woodlandfarms]

I have a couple of outlets that run off one breaker in my kitchen.

Today I plugged in a vacuum, and the motor was jumping up and down in speed, like a load was coming on line. I got out my voltmeter and witnessed the voltage going from 117 to 94 and back up again, intermitten, no excuses, load or no load.

About the only thing plugged into the circuit is a coffee pot and a toaster, they run intermittently and were unplugged during the test.

Went outside, reset the breaker, which is probably an older 20Amp. And the issue still continues.

Oh, and when I popped the breaker off my digital volt meter read 2.07 volts (did not fluctuate). As it is a cheapy meter, I am not 100% sure it is not the meter...

I am mulling over replacing the breaker as my first line of defense, but wondering if anyone has any ideas of where else to look.

 

[Billrog]

Check a few other circuits. The fridge isn't on the same circuit ? Normally that should be a 15 amp breaker. Do you have a neighbor off the same transformer with a welder ?

 

[RickB]

As suggested, check other circuits. But breakers are cheap, and they do fail in more than one way.

 

[ultrarunner]

The several times I have come a similar problem it was a loose connection... mostly the back wired stab lock receptacles and twice the underground feeder wire.

 

[JPRambo]

Is this a overhead power line to the house? I have found that the neutral/ground has come loose and will cause this. If under ground possible loose neutral in the panel. Power coming to house is 120/240. If a neutral comes loose the loads of the house determine what voltage is on the 2 legs of the 120/240. Could be 80/160 could be 110/130. Or anything equaling 240 volts total. You will find this difference throughout the house.

 

[buickanddeere]

Back stabbed receptacles or twisted and taped connections will do that.
Time for 2 or 3 new 20 amp T-Slot GFI receptacles in the kitchen plus a dedicated non GFI 20 amp T-slot for the fridge.

 

[NewfieDan]

Sounds like a loose connection in the particular circuit you are having trouble with. In my exeoerience as an electrician it sounds like a loose neutral in the troubled circuit. I have found that a loose neutral on the service has different numbers. Check your outlets, they are likely to have the wires pushed into the back of the receptacles. If the wires are stabbed in the back take them out and wrap the wires around the terminal screws. If you happen to have aluminum conductors, use an anti-oxide paste. Also check the neutral connections in the panel. If you aren't comfortable in the panel, call an electrician to check your connections.

 

[the old grind]

What they all said: Avoid/redo 'stab' connections, don't expect CBs to last forever. Agree with B&D that new circuits should always be considered when the integrity of old work is dubious.

Does indeed sound like neut to house is defective. That causes items on opposite 'sides' to operate in parallel ''batches' so some will become current/voltage limiters to others, w/lights dimming and brightening at random. Last time I saw this a fridge, TV, Freezer, and cordless phone base blew out when the right combo was 'running' and the electric water heater kicked in. It survived, and insurance covered the other losses.

 

[Xfaxman]

but wondering if anyone has any ideas of where else to look.

If it does it again take the cover plate off of the breakers and measure the voltage on the buss bar that is feeding the breaker.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Thank you everyone. It is, thankfully, not a house issue, it is limited to this one circuit that has no full time loads... One of the outlets is a bit loose (Kitchen, tile behind, never tightens like you want it to) so I will dig that appart... Then on to the other outlets, then to the breaker.