Hi all,
I need some help with my house wiring desperately. I am pretty good around the house and am very careful and detailed in the work that I do.
A little history:
I recently tried my hands on puting a new 20amp circuit into the basement for our new laundry room. I followed all of the instructions in my book (and verified many sources online) and everything seemed fine - it wasn't that complicated - just 1 circuit with 4 20-amp receptacles daisy chained down the line. The new circuit has only been used very lightly and only with our 1000watt microwave oven for about 5 mins each time (at the most 7x). The microwave behaved as it should. (please note that when I tried placing this 1000watt microwave in a receptable that went to the original wiring of the house that the lights in the kitchen dimmed and the microwave sounded like it was gasping for air (not getting enough juice).
Anyway, with that in mind, ever since I placed that new circuit.. about 4 months after i installed it there have been at least 2 instances where all of the electricity in the house just goes OUT.. and stays off for about 5-10 seconds... then just comes back on its own. The main breaker NEVER toggles off, and none of the other circuits toggles off. Everything just comes back up on its own.
The main breaker looks fine - the switch feels very strong and it turns off and on like it should. It's a 100amp service panel on a 1926 house..
My thinking is that it's the main breaker since ALL of the circuits went out... what do you guys think? Also, is the main service breaker something a DIY'er can replace on his own? Those huge electrical wires coming from outside into the panel look mighty dangerous.
- Rompegato
I need some help with my house wiring desperately. I am pretty good around the house and am very careful and detailed in the work that I do.
A little history:
I recently tried my hands on puting a new 20amp circuit into the basement for our new laundry room. I followed all of the instructions in my book (and verified many sources online) and everything seemed fine - it wasn't that complicated - just 1 circuit with 4 20-amp receptacles daisy chained down the line. The new circuit has only been used very lightly and only with our 1000watt microwave oven for about 5 mins each time (at the most 7x). The microwave behaved as it should. (please note that when I tried placing this 1000watt microwave in a receptable that went to the original wiring of the house that the lights in the kitchen dimmed and the microwave sounded like it was gasping for air (not getting enough juice).
Anyway, with that in mind, ever since I placed that new circuit.. about 4 months after i installed it there have been at least 2 instances where all of the electricity in the house just goes OUT.. and stays off for about 5-10 seconds... then just comes back on its own. The main breaker NEVER toggles off, and none of the other circuits toggles off. Everything just comes back up on its own.
The main breaker looks fine - the switch feels very strong and it turns off and on like it should. It's a 100amp service panel on a 1926 house..
My thinking is that it's the main breaker since ALL of the circuits went out... what do you guys think? Also, is the main service breaker something a DIY'er can replace on his own? Those huge electrical wires coming from outside into the panel look mighty dangerous.
- Rompegato