Lights dim when boiler kicks on!

brjl

I have a 100 amp service and the boiler which services heat and hot water is connected to a 15 amp breaker. When the boiler kicks on, the lights dim for 1 second or so.

The wiring is old and may need to be replaced, and I have no idea what gauge wire it is.

My theory is, replace old wire, install new 12 guage wire and 20 amp breaker. Do you think this will take care of the problem?

Thanks
Brian

AllanJ

Changing the wire to 12 gauge will probably not fix that problem.

While you are at it, you should make sure all the connections and set screws, including for the neutral and ground wires, inside the breaker panel are tight. If you loosen each a quarter turn and then retighten, you will clean and improve the connection a little. (Do not use tremendous force)

Also uinsnap and replace each breaker (while it is switched off) to clean the contact underneath. If a breaker seems loose you may need to move it to another slot to get an improved connection.

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dmxtothemax

It not unusual for motors to pull substanicially more than there normal
running current when they first start up.
So your electrical system is not suppling enough current for this.
But it could also be a problem with your electrical suppliers system.
If you start at the boiler and work backwards with a volt meter,
watching the volt level when the boiler kicks in,
you might see where the current limit is.
If it still happens at the service entrance,
then its your electrical companies problem.