Lights flicker when using tools

[Drmadef]

Any electric motor, drill etc. plugged into any outlet is (suddenly) making my lights flicker.

Wired my house 5 yrs ago and of course all outlets are on separate circuits w 12g Rolex 20 amp breakers

All lighting is on 14g Romex and 15 amp breakers.

NEVER had an issue. Not the slightest problem.

Then

I plugged in a borrowed tool which had the neutral and hot switched on a repaired plug

Immediately lights flickered and I blew out a plug strip. Nearly caught fire. Wow scared the crappola out of me.

I went to the main box and tightened every hot and neutral connection.

I tested all plugs and all came out normal. Please advise how to troubleshoot the problem. Power is off. No need for panic or scolding I have the power off and I’m going from box to box looking for anomalies. It’s as if a connection was somehow made between my outlets and my lights is that even possible?

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

can somebody translate this into english for me.. as no offence to the OP but them american terms and references make my eyes go funny... its a bit like metric v imperial..... pints v litres....

 

[westward10]

can somebody translate this into english for me.. as no offence to the OP but them american terms and references make my eyes go funny... its a bit like metric v imperial..... pints v litres....

I would say that is offensive. Romex is a style of cable used in the States, the rest is in English.

 

[westward10]

Is it just the borrowed tool causing the problem.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

I would say that is offensive. Romex is a style of cable used in the States, the rest is in English.

whats the uk equivalent of romex? might help me to picture it...

 

[Marvo]

can somebody translate this into english for me.. as no offence to the OP but them american terms and references make my eyes go funny... its a bit like metric v imperial..... pints v litres....

Translation in red;

Any electric motor, drill etc. plugged into any outlet is (suddenly) making my lights flicker. Self explanatory

Wired my house 5 yrs ago and of course all outlets are on separate circuits w 12g Rolex 20 amp breakers
Socket circuits are 20Amp MCB fed radials using 12 gauge (slightly bigger than 2.5mm sq) flat twin cable.

All lighting is on 14g Romex and 15 amp breakers.
Lighting is on 15A MCB fed radials using 14 gauge (slightly > 2.5mm sq) flat twin cable.

NEVER had an issue. Not the slightest problem.
To date everything has been hunky dunky.

Then

I plugged in a borrowed tool which had the neutral and hot switched on a repaired plug
Rogue power tool had reverse polarity wiring in plug.

Immediately lights flickered and I blew out a plug strip. Nearly caught fire. Wow scared the crappola out of me.
Large fault occured, sounds like large overload/fault current causing socket damage and badly soiled underwear.

I went to the main box and tightened every hot and neutral connection.
Tightened all terminations in consumer unit in an attempt to remidy the problem

I tested all plugs and all came out normal.
Unspecified tests showed all socket outlets to be full functional.

Please advise how to troubleshoot the problem. Power is off. No need for panic or scolding I have the power off and I’m going from box to box looking for anomalies. It’s as if a connection was somehow made between my outlets and my lights is that even possible?
Looking for further advice, seems somewhat skittish and unsure...hypothesizes the problem may be low insulation / poor separation between socket and lighting circuits.......

 

[static zap]

The common point for this is the supply source.
( Lamps dimming slightly is quite common -
but once you have noticed a correlation -like old freezers firing up ... your brain has started to tune in )
-- If volts go down out of spec with large laundry
appliances .. would be a clue that supply has got weak.

 

[Bobster]

I'm working in ABQ next month, if you're still having issues I can take a look, providing a few beer tokens for the local breweries are provided.

 

[Drmadef]

Thanks for the response. I live in Santa Fe so if you have a reason to go there. Son is a brewer in portland if you’re thirsty.
The drill was repaired correctly but the flickering continues slightly. I’m probably just spooked by the incident but need reassurance. I think I need the main box rewired so if and when an inspector ever looks at it there isn’t any DIY looks to it. During that process any problems should be found.
Got a ballpark estimate for a box require?

 

[telectrix]

easy fix. just swap the lights for coloured disco lights. sorry, colored in USA.

 

[Marvo]

I'd suggest you should get a decent electrician to do some basic tests before you jump into a rewire. If the lights flicker excessively when a large load is started up (motors especially) it would be caused by a drop in voltage but the problem could be an external one on the incoming supply or it could be somewhere in the house.

 

[Drmadef]

easy fix. just swap the lights for coloured disco lights. sorry, colored in USA.

easy fix. just swap the lights for coloured disco lights. sorry, colored in USA.

Your experience with lights flickering may be your choice of beer but stay away from those discos in South Acton