[crescere]

When I am on my computer and the dishwasher comes on there is a loud buzzing that comes over the speakers. It seems to be getting worse in that now it does it when any appliance is on. It is also getting louder. Yesterday I had to disconnect the speakers since it sounded like a major electrical discharge in my office. The computer does not seem affected. Only the speakers get that obnoxious noise.

I have noticed that my lights upstairs will sometimes dim when a major appliance comes on. Sometimes that is worse than other days too.

 

[joecaption]

Sounds like a loose nutral connection someplace.

 

[crescere]

@ joecaption

What is the best way to find that? Do I literally unscrew every outlet and switch in the house to find the problem? Is there a way to localize it?

 

[AllanJ]

Measure voltage between one large lug in the panel and neutral as an ap0pliance starts up. Repeat for the other large lug and neutral. The large lugs are the ones that receive the feed wires from the meter and they are near the main breaker. Take notice of any significant swings way from 120 volts.

The lights that are dimming and the appliance that is causing it are almost certainly on different branch circuits in which case the problem is at some point common to both branch circuits. Such a common point would be in the panel or futher upstream towards the meter.

If any lights get brighter that means there is a neutral problem. You need to unplug all electronics from affected circuits until this is fixed since overvoltage will cause damage. Dimming of lights could mean either a hot wire or a neutral has a bad connection. The problem is more noticeable with incandescent lights; screw some incandescent lamps back into some fixtures for testing purposes.

 

[crescere]

So I use a meter and set it to voltage and put one lead on one of the two lugs where the power is coming in and the other lead on the neutral bus where the white wires go? If I notice a drastic change in the current what does that mean?
Are you saying the loose wire may be in the man circuit breaker?

 

[MCB]

Since you obviously can hear the dishwasher coming on and its happening at that time, have a look at the neutral in the panel for the dishwasher, and tighten all the neutrals in there while you are at it....!!!! BE CAREFUL. don't drop the screwdriver onto a hot lead. lol.

Also check if there is any other circuits on that one, turn all the lights on and shut off the dishwasher cct just to check.

Often you will get interference when a neutral is shared with two different circuits in a switch or recept somewhere also. (works, but not the best wiring). That's a bit trickier to trace.

 

[AllanJ]

Since you obviously can hear the dishwasher coming on and its happening at that time, have a look at the neutral in the panel for the dishwasher, and tighten all the neutrals in there while you are at it....!!!! BE CAREFUL. don't drop the screwdriver onto a hot lead. lol. .

It would be a good idea to take the time and tighten all of the screws and set screws holding wires in place in the panel. Flip off each breaker before touching the screw on it. Don't use tremendous force.

If a screw already seems tight, undo it a quarter turn and then retighten. This cleans things up a bit and improves the connection.

It is better if someone with a lot of experience does the big set screws (on the big lugs for the feed wires).

We cannot rule out a loose wire, or two metal parts that conduct electricity not making good contact when they should, under the main breaker.

 

[crescere]

I shut the power down to the main panel and tightened every screw in the box. This included the white neutrals, the cooper ground, and the switch screws. There were two screws holding white wires that were a little loose. I did not find any disconnected wires.

I just turned the dishwasher on and there is still a quick sputter noise in my speakers when the dishwasher changes cycles. It is two distinct "buzz buzz" sputter noises. Time will tell if the prolonged very loud buzzing sound occurs where I have to disconnect the speakers.

It still seems like my lights dim a little when the furnace and other major appliances come on.

 

[bernie963]

you already have a post on wiring issues at your panel. this hum may be (is) related. how l0ng have you been in this house. are these problems new???

bernie

 

[crescere]

you already have a post on wiring issues at your panel. this hum may be (is) related. how l0ng have you been in this house. are these problems new???

bernie

Bernie, I am a landlord and have MANY houses. This is the house I live in. To update the speakers did indeed go ballistic again. I think it may be a space heater that gets put on in the next room that causes the noise. My computer office is on an entirely different circuit. I do not know what to do next.

 

[frenchelectrican]

Bernie, I am a landlord and have MANY houses. This is the house I live in. To update the speakers did indeed go ballistic again. I think it may be a space heater that gets put on in the next room that causes the noise. My computer office is on an entirely different circuit. I do not know what to do next.

The key issue is the small portable heaters they can cause hovac on the system and somewhere along that circuit may have loose connection and also you may have a bootlegged ground ( not often but it can show up if you hear static on the speakers due the computer useally have the frame grounded on the frame so it may show up like that )

If this not slove the issue then next step is have to call your POCO and tell them you have loose netural on the system they will roll out pretty fast on that.

Merci,
Marc

 

[storageman]

I would have to agree, it sounds like interference. I remember one day I was jamming with my friend. We stopped playing for a moment and we could hear people talking on the amp. I knew what was going on, but my buddy did not. I told him it must be some type of space interference and he believed me. Even today, he has no idea. It's amazing that interference doesn't cause more troubles these days with appliances.