A/C Short Cycle/Lights Dim with A/C Compressor/Wireless Doorbell Rings By Itself?

Question

I am having a series of electrical related issues and I am trying to see if there could be a common cause.

Facts: Older house (1929)

Approx 80% of wiring replaced

New 200 Amp Service

Elect company came out and installed new wiring from pole to meter and we installed new feed to main breaker panel.

AC unit about 10 years old - cools house but compressor go on and off every 10 minutes continusously

Every time AC compressor goes on, all lights in house dim.

Also just installed wireless doorbell. Sometimes when I turn a fan on or turn off a light door bell rings by itself.

Finally - wanted to install ground fault protection breakers in new 200 amp box, but some because of shared neutrals could not be installed - they tripped immediately.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? Wisecracks?

Could this be a common problem or a series of problems?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Your compressor has become a "hard starter".

If it's 10 years old,it's probably a recip.

It could be cutting out on internal every 10 minutes when it does start and run.

Have someone look at the start components or add if necessary.

I bet you have a typical high electric bill too,from the symptoms you desribe.You might want to repalce it with a more efficient unit that runs when you want it to.

As far as the GFCIs are concerned,it doesn't sound like the house is wired to code.

Answer 2

You are allowed to share a neutral if you are using both phases of the input, i.e., if you run 12-3 wire you connect it to two 20A breakers that are on opposing legs in your breaker box but you have only one neutral.  This is due to the two 120V circuits being 180 degrees out of phase with each other causing the neutral to never carry more than 20A.  However, you can't run a GFCI circuit breaker with a shared neutral as each neutral has to be separate for the GFCI to work properly.  I went through this with my house and had to install GFCI outlets instead.  

The doorbell problem could be when you turn off certain appliances there is enough emi emitted for the doorbell to receive its signal.  A wireless doorbell is an RF device and emi is RF, so if the frequency is right - ding dong!  If it is just one switch doing it in the house, try replacing that switch, maybe with a mercury switch.  I know this isn't a firm answer, but a possibility.