If the lighting circuit happens to be on the same circuit as the burner he
should see some dimming when it starts. Not flickering though, that's an
altogether different situation. If the burner is on a dedicated circuit and
he's getting dimming on a separate lighting circuit, he's probably got a bad
connection on that leg of his service or possibly the neutral of the service



"Greg O" wrote in message
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"RBM" rbm2(remove wrote in message
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It's not abnormal. The motor probably draws around 400% of its running
current momentarily when it starts. I'm assuming this is an oil burner
motor with some circulators as well. Do you know if it is on a dedicated
circuit as the more taxed the circuit is when the motor starts, the more
noticeable the dimming would be. It is also possible that there is a
problem with the motor, which is something the oil burner service folks
can check for



I find it hard to believe a typical burner motor and pump would cause a
noticeable flicker on 200 amp panel. There has got to be a wiring problem
some where. A typical boiler set up may have a 1/3 HP motor for the boiler
and similar or less for the pump. 400% of 1/3 HP motor won't even max out
a twenty amp breaker!
I have equipment with 5 HP motors running in the shop, feed off of the
house's 200 amp panel. There is no noticeable flicker or dimming of the
lights when motors start.
Greg