Washing machine brown out

Originally Posted By: mcameron
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Whenever this washing machine is in operation and the agitator comes on the house has brown outs and the lights flicker. Does anyone know what would cause this? Thanks.


Originally Posted By: dbozek
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Probably a loose connection on the motor which would typically increase the amperage. Could even have a ground fault on the motor itself.



You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should and could do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln

Originally Posted By: Charles Palmieri
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I’d look closely for a loose neutral!! Especially. if the receptacle is one of several.


I had a similar problem that was caused by a corroded neutral service drop, POCO changed the drop and the problem went away.


Originally Posted By: rcooke
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I'd look closely for a loose neutral!! Especially. if the receptacle is one of several
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Good answer The most common place to start is at the main. The main neutral only carries the unbalanced part of the load. If hot line a is caring 30 amps and the hot line b is caring 40 amps the the neutral would be caring 10 amps . The washer with its high pulsating load could be causing a possible loose main neutral to have a high resistance and this could cause a very unbalance with higher voltage on one of the legs causing the lights to pulsate brighter or dimmer . I would suggest a voltage reading at the panel on the hot legs one at a time to see if this could be the problem . Roy Cooke sr Brighton ont . A retired Sparky


Originally Posted By: dbozek
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Good answer Roy except Mike just said it was only the washer doing this…and nothing else. I would suspect a loose connection at the washer itself or the plug it connects to.



You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should and could do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln

Originally Posted By: rcooke
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brown outs and the lights flicker ?


If it was in the washer would you not see slow down and then come up to speed again. It will be interesting when the answer is found . hard to be sure when you are trying to fix what you can not see or touch. I expect any Sparky could find the problem in a reasonably time if it continues to happen . It is some times very hard to find the problem that does not happen when you are on site .
Roy Cooke sr Brighton ont.


Originally Posted By: mcameron
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Thanks everyone, I will keep everyone posted.


Originally Posted By: mcameron
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The problem was a faulty ground. FPL is taking care of it. Thanks for the great advice.


Originally Posted By: jmcginnis
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Hey Mike…


If the problem was a faulty ground then the power company must have a really bad neutral connection at the transformer. Is this by any chance an underground service entrance?


Originally Posted By: mcameron
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No, but because of the Hurricanes they have become loose. I guess. I found out that the building next to this one was having the same problems. Thanks.