[amorphous]

Hi All, hoping someone could provide some directional guidance.

A ceiling fan died in my bedroom. I replaced with a chandelier and replaced the light switch with a new single pole light switch. The chandelier dims on and off whenever we put our downstairs washing machine on. The bedroom is in the front upper left corner of the house, the washing machine is on the first floor rear left corner of the house. The electrical box is in the basement, front right corner of the house. Wires are tight in the fixture, no other lights on the branch circuit, or anywhere else in the house are dimming. I don't believe vibration from the washing machine can be rattling something in the fixture or circuit box due to the locations I described above. What are some things I can be looking at to try and troubleshoot further? What other information can I provide that m

 

[seharper]

If you have tape on your wire-nut connections, that's the problem. Not the tape, the fact that they'll fall apart if not taped. Being loose like that means a bad connection. Wire nuts should easily pass a pull-test. If not, it's wrong size wire nut, or bad technique.


Otherwise, give your wire-nut connections an inspection and "pull test" - no tape, hold the nut, tug each wire one at a time.

Also check the wiring in the chandelier, you might just have a duff one.

Lastly check any "back-stab" connections at switches or upstream in the circuit, and by "check" I mean twist them out of the hole and put them on the side screws. You can inspect a side screw. Can't inspect a backstab!

 

[chetwisner]

If you have tape on your wire-nut connections, that's the problem. Not the tape itself, the false idea that they'll fall apart if not taped. Being loose like that means a bad connection. Wire nuts should easily pass a pull-test. If not, it's wrong size wire nut, or bad technique.


Otherwise, give your wire-nut connections an inspection and "pull test" - no tape, hold the nut, tug each wire one at a time.

Also check the wiring in the chandelier, you might just have a duff one.

Lastly check any "back-stab" connections at switches or upstream in the circuit, and by "check" I mean twist them out of the hole and put them on the side screws. You can inspect a side screw. Can't inspect a backstab!

Fixed your post :biggrin2:

 

[amorphous]

Thanks, a bit confused on the response though. As stated I validated the connection was super tight wire nut and all. Additionally why would this one fixture only dim with the washing machine on? If the fixture was bad wouldn't it dim regardless of other appliances?

Thanks

 

[AllanJ]

Does the chandelier stay dim all the while the washing machine is running or only briefely when the machine is first turned on and perhaps again briefly when the washer changes from wash to rinse?

Do you have any portable lamp fixtures (floor lamps; table lamps) with incandescent lamp bulbs in them?

Retest your house moving the incandescent lamps about. Do they dim in some additional locations when you turn on the washing machine?

Or use a multimeter or voltmeter instead of incandescent lights.

 

[amorphous]

The lights on the chandelier flicker (dim/bright) the entire time the washing machine is running. I did put all the lights on in the house and didn't see the dimming/flickering anywhere else (even in the same room with a floor lamp. Also fyi they are LED C-type bulbs in the chandelier, but it's not on a dimmer switch.

 

[dj3]

It may not be code in your city, but I like to have kitchen appliances and light fixture separated and not on the same circuits. The technical language is: kitchen appliances should have dedicated circuits.
Get a licensed electrician to sort it out for you.

 

[amorphous]

Guys the washing machine/dryer have their own circuit. The bedroom is already on it's own circuit.

 

[chetwisner]

It may not be code in your city, but I like to have kitchen appliances and light fixture separated and not on the same circuits. The technical language is: kitchen appliances should have dedicated circuits.
Get a licensed electrician to sort it out for you.

This is a DIY site.

 

[Missouri Bound]

Loose connections often result in flickering lights.
Since this just started after you replaced a fixture that leads us to towards that situation.
Do you have a 100 or 200 amp service in your home?
Often when a large appliance is working in a service that is maybe not up to par it will create this issue. What else is on the ceiling circuit? Any receptacles?
How many bulbs in the new fixture? Can you switch them out to incandescent to see if the issue persists? LED's are more sensitive to voltage fluctuations. Your ceiling fan wouldn't have shown that.
Try turning on all of your lights and start the washer. See if there are other areas that are affected.
Internal wiring of the fixture can be an issue as well....or the switch.
Sorry I cannot be more helpful. It is just that there are far more reasons that this is happening than can be diagnosed over the "web".

 

[seharper]

Fixed your post :biggrin2:

I find people tape them because they really do fall apart *for them*. They tape rather than fix their technique. But yes, because they think them falling apart without tape is normal!

 

[amorphous]

Thanks, I'm willing to look into any suggestions. 5 lights in the fixture, all recepeticals in the bedroom including the ceiling are on the same circuit. I tried turning all lights on in the house and didn't notice any flickering elsewhere. It's also a brand new light switch, I can try swapping it out. I also tried turning on other high draw appliances like the microwave, two ranges and dryer/dishwasher all at the same time and no flickering. Could there be a problem with the washing machine itself drawing to many amps or something?

 

[Shaneyj]

Thanks, I'm willing to look into any suggestions. 5 lights in the fixture, all recepeticals in the bedroom including the ceiling are on the same circuit. I tried turning all lights on in the house and didn't notice any flickering elsewhere. It's also a brand new light switch, I can try swapping it out. I also tried turning on other high draw appliances like the microwave, two ranges and dryer/dishwasher all at the same time and no flickering. Could there be a problem with the washing machine itself drawing to many amps or something?

Did you try moving those LED bulbs to another fixture? Or replacing them with incandescents?
A loose neutral or poor phase connection upstream would manifest in other lights/loads. Your test of turning on other appliances and lights ruled out these possibilities.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[amorphous]

Thanks, when you say poor phase connection what do you mean? The circuit breaker at the box? Also when you say lose neutral do you mean at the electrical box or another junction box or outlet somewhere else in the house? Are there any methods to test this and locate the source? My neighbor advised that I tie the neutral into the ground, but that didn't seem like a good or safe idea.

Good idea with checking the lights in another fixture, I will do that.

 

[Shaneyj]

Thanks, when you say poor phase connection what do you mean? The circuit breaker at the box? Also when you say lose neutral do you mean at the electrical box or another junction box or outlet somewhere else in the house? Are there any methods to test this and locate the source? My neighbor advised that I tie the neutral into the ground, but that didn't seem like a good or safe idea.

Good idea with checking the lights in another fixture, I will do that.

Yeah, dont listen to your neighbor...
Flickering lights when a large load is connected is indicative (not always though) of a poor neutral or phase connection. I've seen these poor connections in sub panels, main disconnects, meter equipment and further upstream in POCOs equipment. But that doesnt seem to be your issue, and I wouldn't recommend attempting to troubleshoot. That, in my opinion, is where a pro should be called in.
LEDs can be fickle; especially cheap ones with poorly built electronics.
Based on info given, I'd bet it's the bulbs.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[amorphous]

Really appreciate the insight. I would think if it was the bulbs another large draw appliance would cause them to dim as well. I will give it a shot though.

 

[chetwisner]

DON'T tie the neutrals in with the grounds. The only place for that to happen is in the MAIN panel, and that should already have been done.

In addition to others, check junction boxes near the panel, in addition to all receptacles on that circuit.

I really can't imagine heavy appliances sharing the lighting circuit, unless, of course, a self-proclaimed electrician tapped into the washer circuit in a junction box, or the washer's receptacle box. Might wanna check those out.