I had a new circuit breaker box installed 3 years ago by a licensed
electrician, the old one was a Federal Pacific "fire starter".
Everything was fine until a few days ago. When I turn on the TV, the
power for that entire circuit goes off WITHOUT tripping the circuit
breaker. The rest of the house has power.
If I wait for a few minutes the power for the circuit (not just the
socket that the TV is plugged in to) that shut down COMES BACK ON BY
ITSELF and I can turn on the TV with no problem (until the next time).
The problem does not happen all the time, probably every other time I
turn on the TV.. We have been having record temperatures here for the
past 10 days or so with no rain (105-110).
If there was a short in the TV you would think the circuit breaker
would trip.

Anyone have an idea what's going on?

On Aug 15, 3:41 pm, ron wrote:
I had a new circuit breaker box installed 3 years ago by a licensed
electrician, the old one was a Federal Pacific "fire starter".
Everything was fine until a few days ago. When I turn on the TV, the
power for that entire circuit goes off WITHOUT tripping the circuit
breaker. The rest of the house has power.
If I wait for a few minutes the power for the circuit (not just the
socket that the TV is plugged in to) that shut down COMES BACK ON BY
ITSELF and I can turn on the TV with no problem (until the next time).
The problem does not happen all the time, probably every other time I
turn on the TV.. We have been having record temperatures here for the
past 10 days or so with no rain (105-110).
If there was a short in the TV you would think the circuit breaker
would trip.

Anyone have an idea what's going on?

A shourt would trip the breaker, sounds more like an open is
occurring.

If you reset the breaker off to on, does the branch circuit come
back? If you jiggle the breaker does anything change? Sounds like
the connection at the breaker is going open or bad breaker with
carboned contacts that cant handle the impulse when turning on the TV.

"ron" wrote in message
ps.com...
I had a new circuit breaker box installed 3 years ago by a licensed
electrician, the old one was a Federal Pacific "fire starter".
Everything was fine until a few days ago. When I turn on the TV, the
power for that entire circuit goes off WITHOUT tripping the circuit
breaker. The rest of the house has power.
If I wait for a few minutes the power for the circuit (not just the
socket that the TV is plugged in to) that shut down COMES BACK ON BY
ITSELF and I can turn on the TV with no problem (until the next time).
The problem does not happen all the time, probably every other time I
turn on the TV.. We have been having record temperatures here for the
past 10 days or so with no rain (105-110).
If there was a short in the TV you would think the circuit breaker
would trip.

Anyone have an idea what's going on?

Obviously you have a bad connection somewhere. Could be in an outlet, the
breaker, or (unfortunately) somewhere else.
Check all the connections. If they are all sound try switching two breakers
and see if the problem follows the breaker.

I had a problem like similar to this; part of a circuit would go off for
months at a time and then just come back. The advice I gave above would
have solved the problem IF either electrician I had look at it could be
bothered to trace the circuit properly. I found an outside outlet that had
corroded.

ron wrote:
I had a new circuit breaker box installed 3 years ago by a licensed
electrician, the old one was a Federal Pacific "fire starter".
Everything was fine until a few days ago. When I turn on the TV, the
power for that entire circuit goes off WITHOUT tripping the circuit
breaker. The rest of the house has power.
If I wait for a few minutes the power for the circuit (not just the
socket that the TV is plugged in to) that shut down COMES BACK ON BY
ITSELF and I can turn on the TV with no problem (until the next time).
The problem does not happen all the time, probably every other time I
turn on the TV.. We have been having record temperatures here for the
past 10 days or so with no rain (105-110).
If there was a short in the TV you would think the circuit breaker
would trip.

Anyone have an idea what's going on?



Try thumping the bottom of your fist against the wall next to the outlet
the TV plugs into and see if that triggers anything.

If it does, you may have a "loose disconnection" inside that outlet box.

If that test doesn't produce results, try it around the other outlets
and switches on the circuit and also on the side of the breaker box.

That may help you narrow things down.

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

On Aug 15, 4:41 pm, ron wrote:
I had a new circuit breaker box installed 3 years ago by a licensed
electrician, the old one was a Federal Pacific "fire starter".
Everything was fine until a few days ago. When I turn on the TV, the
power for that entire circuit goes off WITHOUT tripping the circuit
breaker. The rest of the house has power.
If I wait for a few minutes the power for the circuit (not just the
socket that the TV is plugged in to) that shut down COMES BACK ON BY
ITSELF and I can turn on the TV with no problem (until the next time).
The problem does not happen all the time, probably every other time I
turn on the TV.. We have been having record temperatures here for the
past 10 days or so with no rain (105-110).
If there was a short in the TV you would think the circuit breaker
would trip.

Anyone have an idea what's going on?

check the screws on the breaker first, then as long as your checking
that check the rest too. including your nuetrals, screws will work
their way loose see it all the time. wouldnt hurt to pull the outlet
out and check to see if wires are under screw or stabbed in the back
of the oulet, if stabbed in the back pull them out and put them under
the screw where they belong.
so if breaker is good and screws tight. wires to outlets under screw
and tight and still not right then you probably have a connection (pig
tails) somewhere that is going bad.

sym wrote:

On Aug 15, 4:41 pm, ron wrote:
I had a new circuit breaker box installed 3 years ago by a licensed
electrician, the old one was a Federal Pacific "fire starter".
Everything was fine until a few days ago. When I turn on the TV, the
power for that entire circuit goes off WITHOUT tripping the circuit
breaker. The rest of the house has power.
If I wait for a few minutes the power for the circuit (not just the
socket that the TV is plugged in to) that shut down COMES BACK ON BY
ITSELF and I can turn on the TV with no problem (until the next time).
The problem does not happen all the time, probably every other time I
turn on the TV.. We have been having record temperatures here for the
past 10 days or so with no rain (105-110).
If there was a short in the TV you would think the circuit breaker
would trip.

Anyone have an idea what's going on?

check the screws on the breaker first, then as long as your checking
that check the rest too. including your nuetrals, screws will work
their way loose see it all the time. wouldnt hurt to pull the outlet
out and check to see if wires are under screw or stabbed in the back
of the oulet, if stabbed in the back pull them out and put them under
the screw where they belong.
so if breaker is good and screws tight. wires to outlets under screw
and tight and still not right then you probably have a connection (pig
tails) somewhere that is going bad.

If the wires are in the back of the outlet and it has the little release
slots for spring contacts then move the connections to the proper screw
terminals. If the wires are in the back of the outlet and it does not
have the little release slots check and see if it is the screw clamp
type back wire which have no problems, if so, leave as is, just make
sure screws are tight.

Pete C.

Did a "bang the wall with a night light in the socket" test and sure
enough the outlet just before the one I use for the TV went on and off
as I banged the wall. I took it apart and, as predicted by you folks,
it was backstabbed. Not only that, but there was evidence of arcing.
So I replaced that outlet and USED THE SCREWS not the backstabs. I
then used the screws on all outlets on that breaker. I did the "bang
test" on all the outlets in the house and found one more outlet that
didn't pass the test. Using the screws on all the outlets and switches
in the house are now on the "to do" list".


Thank- you to everyone for your help and it looks like I owe Steve
some donuts.
Ron

I like the chocolate covered cake type. (and a small chocolate milk)

steve


"ron" wrote in message
oups.com...
Did a "bang the wall with a night light in the socket" test and sure
enough the outlet just before the one I use for the TV went on and off
as I banged the wall. I took it apart and, as predicted by you folks,
it was backstabbed. Not only that, but there was evidence of arcing.
So I replaced that outlet and USED THE SCREWS not the backstabs. I
then used the screws on all outlets on that breaker. I did the "bang
test" on all the outlets in the house and found one more outlet that
didn't pass the test. Using the screws on all the outlets and switches
in the house are now on the "to do" list".


Thank- you to everyone for your help and it looks like I owe Steve
some donuts.
Ron