On Tue, 09 Jan 2007 19:16:11 GMT, "Fpbear II"
wrote:

Indeed in the rest of the house, turnining on a load causes drops in voltage
in other completely different circuits. For example when I start the dryer,
which has its own 50A breaker from the main panel, this causes the computer
UPS to beep for a few seconds due to the drop in voltage. The computer is
on a different circuit with a 15A fuse in the main panel.

If this was a problem with the main panel, will the electric company come
out to fix it without charge? The panel looks pretty old, it might be the
original from 1950. How do these open or bad neutral connections occur? Is
it something like rust build up?



The power company does not handle problems AFTER the meter.
But I'd call them and have them check the transformer and wiring from
it to your meter. The transformer may be undersized or failing, or
some loose connections up there. If they dont find anything wrong,
its time for you to rewire or get an electrician. Wiring from 1950 is
probably fuses and it's time to upgrade. Of course it never hurts to
tighten all the screws in the box, and clean the contacts oon fuses.
The old cartridge fuses tend to corrode where they clip in the box.
Clean then with a wire brush or sandpaper, or just replace them and
see if that helps. Be sure your ground rod is still attached to the
wire that goes to the main panel. Sometimes they corrode off. Another
thing is to check all wirenut connections in boxes thruout the house,
especially those that are some of the main feeds from the main box.