Corpusfishing.com

SeanHHH · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 1:16 pm Post subject: OT: Residential Electrician

This spring the casa in Tropic Isles was suffering from lights dimming, near and brief power outages and occasional spikes in which the lights would get real bright for a second or two. The problem is most noticeable in the kitchen. Later this summer, the stove/oven fried as did the microwave.

I called AEP and they came out and checked their exterior equipment and naturally they reported that everything is functioning great from their end.

Which leads me to ask you, the vast unpaid research department, for recommendations for a residential electrician who excels at his job and is reasonable.

While I'm posting this, I'd be interested to hear if others have had similar electrical issues and how they got fixed. I asked my neighbors and they aren't experiencing the same problems. One noted that he did a few years back and had a guy replace his breakers/box and the problem went away.

Thanks in advance!

fishinglady · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 1:33 pm Post subject:

Have the electrician check to see if the wiring in the house is aluminum. If so, you need to have special connections put in at every single outlet, breakers, etc., where the aluminum meets copper, or it can become a real fire hazard. [Happened to me in two separate houses in Austin....both built in late 60's early 70's].

Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

Had a home where one of the wires in the three phase was out/cut and it fried my coffee maker, washing machine and garage door opener.

No lights dimming however. One of the kids reported a shock in the bath tub.
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TheRealLagunatic · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 2:05 pm Post subject:

How you doing Sean, I had a house in town that was having the same weird happenings and it turned out to be like Tyler said in my case it was the ground or common that broke so the power was looking for a route back out . The wire could be broken inside the insulation and not noticeable with just a visual inspection. As for the aluminum wiring if you have aluminum wiring in your home and have not installed the special outlets and switches i would highly recommend it . I spent an entire day switching them out when we bought the house there in Tropic isles. Good luck i hope you get it squared away quickly .

joejoe7716 · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 3:04 pm Post subject:

Sounds like loose neutral. Check the breaker box

TailStalker · Horse Mullet Joined: 11 May 2014 Posts: 131

Yes, sounds exactly like a loose neutral on the line. If you want a good choice for an electrician in the Bluff, contact Cliff's Electric at 960-3665 and he can get you fixed up. I worked for him when I first got into the trade in 2000, he is a very good guy.

electricyak · Joined: 21 Nov 2012 Posts: 9 Location: San Antonio

Voltage Fluctuations explained
Courtesy of A&G Electrical Services (San Antonio)

If you have any further questions or concerns please post back.

Voltage Fluctuations

Problems related to quality of power supply can be experienced as voltage fluctuations, power surges and spikes. They commonly cause lights to flicker, glow brighter or dimmer and can even cause incandescent bulbs to blow prematurely. Poor power supply can also cause electronic equipment to fail (especially computers) and may cause interference of radio or television reception.

What causes poor power quality?

Voltage fluctuations are generally caused by loose or corroded connections at either the house or on the power lines, and are often noticed by flickering lights.

Dim lights can be a symptom of the voltage being too low. This can be caused by overloading on the network, loose connections or the conductor wire carrying power to your house being too small. In extreme cases, a loose connection can cause electric shocks from metal appliances and surfaces in your house.

Power surges and spikes are commonly caused by lightening, power switching on the lines or sometimes from household appliances drawing excessive amounts of power in either your own house or neighbouring premises. Other less common causes of power surges and spikes include lines clashing as a result of trees, strong winds, vehicle accidents or possums and birds on the lines.

Drake · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2015 11:36 am Post subject: Electrician

I have used the guys TailStalker recommended, Cliffs. They do good work at reasonable prices.

ironmanstan · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 8:49 am Post subject: Re: Electrician

Hoggeman · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 7:49 pm Post subject: Call Mike at Tri- county electric

Tri-County Electric will fix it
ask for Sharker Mike
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SeanHHH · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 9:41 pm Post subject:

I want to thank everyone for their responses and recommendations.

One of Cliff's guys came out Saturday morning. He determined that the two wires going from the meter to the main breaker registered 165 volts on one and 80 volts on the other (instead of 120 each). He recommended that I call AEP to come and check the meter box and troubleshoot their end.

Within an hour of making the call an AEP technician was on site. He quickly noticed the problem: one of their three wires from the pole to the house, at the connection with my wires, looked to be corroded. He cut and replaced all three connections and upon closer inspection one was indeed pretty corroded. I suppose that can be expected with two dissimilar metals and electricity is in the mix: their wire is aluminum, my lines are copper.

As far as I can tell, the problem is now solved.

Oh and here is a quick fishing report:
Thursday night from midnight to 2:30 a.m.
Red Dot Pier
One throwback speck and a skipjack

Friday evening, 5-7 p.m.
Backyard near Tropic Isles, drifting
A couple of small specks after sunset

Saturday, 2:30-6:30 p.m.
Backyard, Tropic Isles area and flats closer to the big bridge, drifting
3-4 dink trout, one that was about 16", and a 19.5" red

It was extremely slow. All fish caught on soft plastics. Mullet were a common site and pin perch would occasionally nip lure tails. I did see several 5-6" menhaden swimming in circles on the surface.

It was nice to go to HEB and Walmart without crowds.

Cool

Fish2drink · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2015 9:16 am Post subject:

SeanHHH,

I had the same issues as the lights would dim especially when the wife used the hair dryer. I called an electrician and the guy told me straight out that it could be a faulty ground, but to save me money from him going to check it to call my provider first and tell them that I had an electrician look at my house and mentioned it was on their end first. (what a cool guy)
Well to make a long story short the issue was on their end on the main electrical box didn't even need the electrician... not to mention I put two and two together and I would say they are the reason I lost a PC, Microwave and DVR the same year.
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