Re: Game room voltage drop problem

I am not an electrician but I have done a lot of my own wiring. It is
unusual to see such a voltage drop. Even if your games are on a 15 amp
circuit, the voltage drop shouldn't be that large. Check the circuit
breaker when the games are on and you measure the voltage drop to see
if it is warm. That would indicate a high load close to tripping the
breaker or the breaker could eb going bad. I would consider replacing
it as a 15 amp breaker cost only about $4. Also remove the cover plate
from the circuit panel, cut the main power, and check the black wire
from that circuit breaker to make sure it is not loose in the treminal
to the circuit breaker and that enough of the wire is stripped to make
good electrical contact. You could also have a bad electical contact
anywhere on the circuit. Keep in mind that the wiring is normally
daisy chanied from one recepticle to the next. Most modern wiring is
connected by stripping the wire and pushing it into a hole in the back
of the recepticle. One wire not installed correctly can cause the
whole circuit to function poorly and may cause the voltage drop. With
the circuit breaker off, remove and inspect each recepticle and
consider pulling the wires out from the push-in connectors and
attaching them to the screws on the sides. They have to be out on so
the wire is 'clockwise' and covers at least 270 degrees fo the screw.
Do this for all recepticles and switches on the circuit. This makes
much better electrical contact then the push in connectors and better
continuity throughout the circuit.

If your games are in the basement, there may be a GFI circuit breaker
or the first recepticle may be a GFI recepticle. These can also go bad
and may cause a voltage drop. So if nothing else is wrong, that should
also be replaced with a new one.

Yes all of this will take 2 to 4 hours but likely will solve your
problem. If you do need another circuit. I recommend using #12 wire
not #14 to reduce the voltage drop, and it can also handle up to 20
amps.

Bob
.

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