Electrical failures.

Didn't know where exactly to post this but i'm having some mighty electrical problems, lately. It started with light flickering (in the whole apartment). I heard that the refrigerator was making weird noises as soon as light flickered and thought that this must be refrigerator's fault, but yesterday I disconnected the refrigerator and it still was happening. Nothing else, except my computer and the 600W Hps lamp in the other room was not switched on.

So, I've heard that by the end of their life span HPS bulbs start to flicker. I don't know exactly when I bought mine, but it could be around a year. Could it be that the bulb is making everything flicker?

I really don't want to call an electrician as my counter was hijacked a long time ago (I pay 10times less that I should).

Some professional advice would really count.
Thanks,
Rich.

all the lights were just flickering??? Nothing else?

SLB

Well, all the lights were flickering, the HPS had it's power interrupted, so it shut down and tried to restart for about 10-15 minutes. And my computer, stereo system, and everything else just shut down. This started happening rarely with the lighting around the house, then the HPS started to shut down (not only flicker) and then, yesterday, even my PC started to shut down and these power shortages started to run for about 2-3 seconds, which is A LOT.

Anyway, i'm ready to replace to bulb on my light setup as I am about a month from harvest and don't want to lose that, but I need to be at least sure that it's the bulb's failure, not other components or even my electrical grid/counter/etc.

asphyxiated2 said:

Well, all the lights were flickering, the HPS had it's power interrupted, so it shut down and tried to restart for about 10-15 minutes. And my computer, stereo system, and everything else just shut down. This started happening rarely with the lighting around the house, then the HPS started to shut down (not only flicker) and then, yesterday, even my PC started to shut down and these power shortages started to run for about 2-3 seconds, which is A LOT.

Anyway, i'm ready to replace to bulb on my light setup as I am about a month from harvest and don't want to lose that, but I need to be at least sure that it's the bulb's failure, not other components or even my electrical grid/counter/etc.

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What's the amperage of the breaker you have the HPS plugged into? Have you calculated how much power you're pulling from the breaker all together?

SLB

Hmm, what do you mean by 'breaker'? I have not calculated as I've never had any problems. What I do know is that my electrical supply (with wires through the walls, etc) can take only 3,5Kw/h at a time. If I put more, then everything blows out and I'm without electricity. And, there it is - the lamp takes 600 watts, computer a little less, the lighting in apartment takes ridicilous amount of power. I really slept through the physics, so don't really remember anything about amps, sorry. (

asphyxiated2 said:

Hmm, what do you mean by 'breaker'? I have not calculated as I've never had any problems. What I do know is that my electrical supply (with wires through the walls, etc) can take only 3,5Kw/h at a time. If I put more, then everything blows out and I'm without electricity. And, there it is - the lamp takes 600 watts, computer a little less, the lighting in apartment takes ridicilous amount of power. I really slept through the physics, so don't really remember anything about amps, sorry. (

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A breaker is that thing in the wall with all the switches and shit...you should probably look into that!

SLB

Well, all i have in my wall is an electrical outlet, which is connected to a extension cord, in which there's a mechanical timer and in this timer is plugged another extension cord, in which the ballast is plugged in.

I don't know if there should be a problem as I've had no problems for almost two years and now it starts happening. And there is no amperage stated on the extension cords, themselves.

as stated above about your breaker box: it sounds like to me (im not a electrician) that the 600w is on a circuit that is already close to its limit try plugging the light into a diffrent outlet preferbly in a seperate room and see if it stops or keeps it up. your breaker box should be a grey colored metal box with a few to a bunch of diffrent amp rated circuits located in a bedroom a closet or in the basement(if you have one)

if all the lights flicer in your house, this could be a number of things, overload mayb, what breaker have you got? is it an old black box type thing kinda like a domino? or a switch ? also your fridge wont effect the lights as its a diffrent circuit, or it should be , id say check all the connections on your fuse box to make sure they are all tight

look for loose wire in breaker box or a weak breaker

You definitely need an electrician to check it all out - if there is an overload the next thing could be a fire.

1mikej said:

look for loose wire in breaker box or a weak breaker

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If its a whole house issue, ur breaker box could be old, have a lose terminal connection, and/or completely shot. If its just happening on one circuit it is prob a lose connection inside the box. Definately not a job 4 someone who isnt electricaly inclined. The problem could b a fire if left unchecked and in use.

Alright man electrician here . Sounds to me like your having 1 of 3 issues . And based on what u have posted I<M not gonna give you advice on what to do because it involves hot work.Sounds like u need a friend who is more knowlageble than u to fix this.However i will tell u the issues I have seen cause what your describing .Based on what u said this occurs even with the fridge unplugged and your hps was off.If i was checking this for u I would go to the meter first and check all connection there meter jaws get loose sometimes. BUT U HAVE TO BREAK THE SEAL ON YOUR METER BOX TO CHECK AND THIS DRAWS UNWANTED ATTENTION FOR YOU.Then I,d check them main breaker and then the main connections at the panel.I have seen loose nuetrels cause this problem but that could be anywhere in the house its hard to trace these down.It could be a loose wire anywhere from your panel to an outlet .
I,m not recommending u do this work though its dangerous and can get u killed.Find a buddy or friend of friend who knows how to work on energized electrical systems !