Lights Flickering

[Grant1987]

Hi all,

I’m having bit of a problem diagnosing a fault it’s already in my top 5 of hardest faults to find.
I’ll try to simplify lights on one circuit and also lamps plugged into sockets on the ring main sometimes flicker indicating it’s not just lighting circuit. My first hunch is loose connection in consumer unit rcd. Split load dual rcd however sockets and lights are on separate rcds. Next hunch the main switch is at fault however connections are tight and secure. It’s a terraced house with overhead supply apparently neighbours do not have same issue so can rule out loose connection on supply side HELP!!!

 

[Grant1987]

I will happily thump the consumer unit and the customer ? told them to ring fellow sparks but they’ll be in same boat as me as I’ve spoken to them all. Well the ones I like us sparks do sometimes create a divide you all know what I mean ??

I honestly feel like crying on this one ? I’ll get to bottom of it but it’s now turned into my worst fault I originally put it in top 5 it’s now on top

 

[marconi]

Could you tell report the PSCC please before and after main switch, with main switch closed. Similarly for the two RCDs.

 

[marconi]

Also ask the customer to switch off at socket when not in use the washing machine,dishwasher, tumble dryer which all have in line emi filters which may be failing.

 

[marconi]

Grant1987 - what Sir is the earthing system in the home? Are the overhead lines marked pme or can you see the lower neutral conductor connected to an earth electrode at some/all of the wooden poles? Has the overhead been modernised to (the ugly IMHV) 4 cable ABC viz aerial bundled cable?

Any electric car chargers in the street?

Any electric car chargers in the street?

 

[UNG]

I honestly feel like crying on this one ? I’ll get to bottom of it but it’s now turned into my worst fault I originally put it in top 5 it’s now on top

Keep your chin up, we all get those faults from hell once in a while but having solved it the pay off is that you will have gained some knowledge and experience to store away for the next one that pops up
If it is of any consolation intermittent faults are the hardest ones to find as you can guarantee that the fault will rarely show itself while you are on site and quite often it can need logging equipment to identify what is happening when it occurs
If the DNO fits a logger get the customer to note the day & time of any flickering of the lights as depending on the sample rate the logger could miss the fault

 

[Grant1987]

Any electric car chargers in the street?

No, there’s none that I’m aware of but I’ll be going back this week and double check

 

[freddo]

I honestly feel like crying on this one ? I’ll get to bottom of it but it’s now turned into my worst fault I originally put it in top 5 it’s now on top

Want to swap? Got to find shared neutrals tomorrow over 50 circuits in the area, quite a few we can't turn off...

 

[Grant1987]

Want to swap? Got to find shared neutrals tomorrow over 50 circuits in the area, quite a few we can't turn off...

Aww sounds like a bad one had a similar one before but not as many circuits as that disconnecting neutrals one by one on neutral bar with continuity/voltage probes on mcb done the trick.

 

[pc1966]

Want to swap? Got to find shared neutrals tomorrow over 50 circuits in the area, quite a few we can't turn off...

Can you current clamp L & N to see if you can find pairs of the same loads, or are all likely to be more or less the same and hard to distinguish on current alone?