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Thu 19 Oct, 2017 08:32 am
I live out in the country and have a light on a pole outside with a sensor to come on at dark. It's power supply comes from the garage, which is separate from the house power. Or so my husband tells me.
Oddly, every time I run the washer or dryer, which are in the house, that outside light goes out. It will go on of off until whichever one is running is finished. Does it consistently. I asked my husband about it many times and he insists it's the light. But, the light works just fine when I'm not running either if those appliances.
I am no electrician what so ever, but I find it difficult to believe that that light, not connected to the house power supply, would consistently go out when the washer or dryer is in use, if there wasn't some sort of issue with the power or wiring.
We are the second owners of this house. The previous owners built it in 1978. The husband was into those short wave radios I think, and had a 200 ft tower in the middle of the back property. There are remnants of the wiring from his hobby, all disconnected, but labeled 220, around the room in the basement that was his radio room. The concrete anchors and pad are still in the yard as well. I'm fairly certain that he wired most of his hobby himself. The tower ran off the garage power, as you can see where it leaves the garage and goes into the ground. One of our old dogs dug up the pipe that the power lines ran thru to the tower from the garage.
This also didn't start until this year. I've lived here 11 years and it's the same washer and dryer we got as a wedding gift, 11 years ago. The light has been replaced several times over the years.
I just don't by my husband's belief it's the sensor on that outside light. Seems that wouldn't make any difference. Now earlier in the year our power was out amd the hubs fired up our diesel generator. But, he had it connected wrong and fried a few things in the house. I think he said the power went thru the ground wire, but I can't remember. I was inside and things were snapping and a burnt out light bulb flickered! I know one breaker in the box had to be switched. I'm pretty sure it was after that, the light started going out when the dryer or washer came on. Anyone have a clue what could be going on? I just want some info to give the hubs so that maybe he will get an electrition out here to look into this. Before our house burns down!
Thank you
@Lmpierce38,
Either learn about electrical wiring and do the checks yourself or hire an electrician to do it. I had a general contractor put in an addition to my house and he did the wiring himself. Years later, while I was replacing a light fixture, I found that he used the white wire as hot side.
@Lmpierce38,
Of course Lmp you could test your Lesser Half's theory by replacing the light
@seac,
That's kind of a problem. You never know if you will get what you paid for, unless you are heavily involved in the business. Even personal recommendations can fall short.
@dalehileman,
Quote:Re: Lmpierce38 (Post 6523501)
Of course Lmp you could test your Lesser Half's theory by replacing the light
On he other hand Lmp, I had had a similar sit when our east outdoor stayed on all day, 'Well, I'll take it down,' I remarked in a Letter to the Editor of our fine Victorville, Ca Daily Press, 'maybe in three or four years...'
...when Friend and helper Ekim by the slightest coincidence offered wiring that not only turned it off unless we switch it on, but also permitted us to open the front gate with inside pushbutton
...in order to accomplish this having found it necessary to acquire a trench digger; then do the entire job himself
The lesson to be learned: Do nothing; the prob might solve itself
...while, always, wonderful to have good friends....
@dalehileman,
I'm in the US. I was trying to imply that people should not trust some do-it-yourself electrical works. Seems the OP bought a house that had electrical work done by the previous owner. There are some electrical contractors in my State that are Koreans, and from what I have heard, their work had to be redone by another contractor to meet the electrical codes of our state.
@seac,
Quote:people should not trust some do-it-yourself electrical works
Ohboy Seac you can say that again !!
I am reminded of a typo in the Software Programmer's Hiring guide, specifying '...an IQ lower than 82', where't shoulda'bin '...above...'
Thank you for that fine followup, possibly 'splainin' yur predic
@seac,
seac wrote:
I'm in the US. I was trying to imply that people should not trust some do-it-yourself electrical works. Seems the OP bought a house that had electrical work done by the previous owner. There are some electrical contractors in my State that are Koreans, and from what I have heard, their work had to be redone by another contractor to meet the electrical codes of our state.
I've hired contractors of local origin (southeast Texas) who reversed the hot and neutral wires for an apartment building. It took about three days to get them back to make the correction. Nobody complained about anything being damaged as a result. The man in question here would be wise to find a trusted, experienced, electrician to handle the problem.
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