Re: Game room voltage drop problem


"The Hammer" <LHNewsgroup@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:C45B8CA7.29E13%LHNewsgroup@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
in article
0566ed07-17de-401f-a262-e2ee0a4d8e3e@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, bob at
bobgto65@xxxxxxx wrote on 5/22/08 7:01 PM:

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

An excellent response. I especially like the GFI question.

I would also check the voltage drop at the circuit breaker. Then again at
each plug. If it is low at the circuit breaker, then that would be
another
sign that the breaker is bad. If it is good there, it could be the run
length, a nick in the wire (hope not!) or a bad connection at a plug.

When you check the voltage drop at each plug, that could tell you if there
is a problem at a plug with the daisy chain.

Most of the time, the wiring is done with the push in connectors at the
plugs. I hate those things and had sporadic drops in voltage because of
one
bad plug. If you know what you are doing, you could rewire with the
connection at each plug to the screws. A lot more surface area there and
less likely to have a failure or voltage drop.

If you don't know what you are doing, then please don't touch it.

Most likely, you will have to run a second circuit.


I had the GFI outlet in my basement do exactly as you describe. More load
added - higher the voltage drop. Plus it was heating up (current thru
resistance = heat). Replaced it with a non-contractor grade (AKA cheap)
GCFI, attached wires using screw terminals rather than shove in holes and
all is well. Actual problem turned out being the wiring to the outlet -
wires stripped and shoved into holes on the outlet (lazy installation).
Wires made contact within the outlet but not real great.

-- Ed


.

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