Electrical snafu - advice requested, please...

[Baz]

This has happened a couple times now...the most recent was last evening.

I will call my electrician on Tuesday to acquire assistance.

In the meantime, wanted to seek input from the brain trust.

My electrical panel is in my kitchen. Electric comes straight in to back of house and into panel. No other panels in structure.

I also have no GFI receptacles. None.

What is happening is a power outage on the circuit the feeds stuff in the kitchen, along with my AC (air handler located behind kitchen wall).

Affected are: electric range, fridge, washer, dryer, and AC.

These are on separate circuits according to electric panel. No breakers are ever tripped in the panel when this happens.

So what happens is after a while...the power comes back on...by itself.

All appliances working fine - no damage to anything.

Also, no power outages from the city source. It's an internal deal.

I've not done anything to the electrics in a long time and the panel is the original that came with the house 50 years ago.

Again...no tripped breakers.

Power goes out......then comes on a couple hours later.

Most of house is not affected. Just the stuff mentioned above.

I also checked to make sure all appliances were plugged in properly and didn't see any issues there.

Thoughts?

[1990C4S]

Are all the affected devices either 220V or on one side of the panel?

You might be losing one phase.

I would put a neon or test light on each side of the 'hot' lines to neutral.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Are all the affected devices either 220V or on one side of the panel?

You might be losing one phase.

I would put a neon or test light on each side of the 'hot' lines to neutral.

This.
Plus, take the cover off the box and look for is any evidence of burning or if you notice any heat coming off of any of the connections. I would minimize power usage if I was you. No AC, no cooking on the range.

[1990C4S]

Smell and look in your panel.

And don't assume the power utility co isn't the source of your trouble....

Ask your neighbor if they have a similar issue.

[devodave]

Sounds like the feed to one of the bus bars is affected, like others have mentioned. I had a similar problem on a barn where one the supply connections was loose and affected by the wind. Be careful, that electricity will smack you hard!

[Steve Carlton]

Get out. Your house is haunted. Don't ask me how I know.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by devodave

.... Be careful, that electricity will smack you hard!

Me...I'd read the "damn near killed you thread" then call a pro .

[crustychief]

I would look at the bussbar and the circuit breaker connections. either way you are getting into the panel. try wiggling the breaker to see if it is a simple connection issue.

[carambola]

C4S is on the right path.

When does the problem occur? I would assume during periods of heavy use.

Are you comfortable taking your panel cover off and taking pictures?

[Baz]

Hey everyone...thanks for the replies and input so far.

Looks like (according to the legend) most affected are on the left side, except the dryer - which is on the right side - so not sure if that is an indication of the problem or not.

No burn smell (or smoke).

I took the cover off and took a few pics.

I don't know what to look for but if anyone sees something fishy - I'm all ears. Looks like a little corrosion on the 2 lower left white wires but all else looks OK to me.

Thanks again for any thoughts...

[dad911]

Those FPE Stab-Loc panels are bad news..... Home inspectors and electricians usually recommend replacement.

Your issue sounds like 1 side of main breaker, or one of the legs feeding the house has problems.

Seriously, google FPE Stab-Loc, before your electrician shows up.

[1990C4S]

Sorry, that's a nasty looking panel. If that were in my house, I would replace it.

[dad911]

Commercial Grade Federal Pacific Electric FPE Stab-Lok® Panel Circuit Breaker & Electrical Panel Hazards?

Can you get a better pic of where the wire attaches below the main breaker? Does if look like it might be failing like this:

[billybek]

As mentioned by others, a quick panel changeout is in your future!

Find someone to change it out and have them permit the job and have it inspected after.

It really shouldn't be all that expensive. Home Depot and others sell panels loaded with breakers that you are likely to need.

I got rid of my Federal panels from the same era and now have left over space in my new panel.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by dad911

Can you get a better pic of where the wire attaches below the main breaker?

How's this? Little dirty but looks OK to me, but I'm no expert....

[carambola]

I once heard from a farmer that for something like that, you shut all the breakers off, go outside and pull the meter and give the seventh space down on the right side a turn or two

[dad911]

Are you comfortable measuring AC volts in the panel?

If so, next time you have a problem, measure:

1) 2 lugs near top of panel, where the 2 heave black wires connect. If you get 220-240, then lines coming in are ok,
2) Output (2 screws) on the main 50 amp breaker. If #1 is ok, but these are less than 220-240, then the main breaker is bad.

However, if it was me, I'd probably turn off the A/C, eat out (don't use range/oven) trying not to 'draw heavy current' until your electrician checks it out......

[SpyderMike]

I recently fixed my Brother in Laws with similar issues - found he has an older Challenger type panel. Wiggling breakers would restore circuits. The breaker contacts to the bus bars on a couple of breakers were spread and there was signs of arcing and sparking. A file and new breakers with tight contacts bought him some more time, but a new panel was suggested. There are some dangerous older panels out there...

Oh, they would work okay cold, but as they heated up they would go offline - randomly.

[Baz]

OK thanks for followup advice. Good stuff and will check out voltage.

Wanted to also mention........a short time ago I opened the fridge and noticed the light was off (no power) - so I turned on one of the range burners and heard a little buzz and the power came back on - for both. Is it possible the range has a problem which is affecting others on that circuit? Thought that was strange. Has happened that way twice now....

[dad911]

If you're panel happens to be labelled correctly, fridge/range on different breakers.

My gut feeling is the main breaker.

But I'd change the panel, given what I've read about those panels/breakers.

Frankly it's now or later. When you sell house a home inspector is going to flag it. Might as well do it now.