Electric help.?

Question

Ok. This will be long, so please read. At my moms house she has a main circuit box, and one that splits off of it. (which I will call the secondary power box in this post) The seconary power box is for her carport which has lights in it, and a shed which also has many tools and lights in it. Recently, all the power in the shed outside is gone. The carport lights are also do not work. My son went into the carport one day, and flickered a light switch in the carport (turns off and on the lights) over and over, and you can clearly see the lights flicker every 5 times or so he flips the switch. They will not stay on. We have tried resetting all the breakers, and it didnt help. We think it might be the breaker that turns on the secondary power box from the main power box, but then again if it was that, why would the lights flicker like i said earlier? My mothers husband just died, and she needs these lights on to be safe. Someone please help

Answer 1

This is a main panel and sub-panel issue.  U have to trace the line from the main panel that feeds the sub-panel to see if something is loose.  U have to follow from the breaker to make sure the s***w is tight.  U will need a voltage tester for this.  It could be ur  neutral wire is loose too (white) so u must check on that.  Make sure when u plan to tighten anything...U must turn off power in the main panel so u won't get killed.  Or better yet..I would recommend a qualify tech to do the job.  It's not safe for just anyone to service the panel because if ur not used to working on the panel u might  short out everything or get hurt.  That would only get u in worst trouble.  The switch that flicks on/off might be bad and might need replace.  Thats why u need a voltage tester to find out where is the power.  I think it could be the switch.

Answer 2

If the lights flicker off and on once in a while from flipping the

switch, the problem  is probably a bad switch. Turn the power

off going to your second power box and then remove and

replace the switches. If they are single pole switches, where

the lights only turn on from one location, you cant wire them

wrong. If they are a 3 way or 4 way switch, which turn on from

more than one location, it is a bit harder, and each wire has to

go in its proper place. A single pole switch well have off and on written on it and has only two screws to put the wires under. Hope this helps a bit.

Answer 3

Here's my guess:  The wire that connects to the breaker which serves the carport is loose at that breaker in the main box.  Simply tighten it with a screwdriver (with the power off) and that should fix the problem.  In fact, while you're at it, tighten all of the screws that connect the wires to the breakers.

  My next guess is that the breaker is bad.  Replacing it shouldn't be that hard to do.  

  Also, the connection between the breaker and the power bar might be corroded.  You will have to clean the contact points.

Answer 4

It is illegal to play around with electric wiring if you don't have a electrical fitters licence. Get a tradesman in before you kill yourself.