Horseart Loc: Alabama

Some will remember that I recently had a problem with my Microwave oven, after burning another one up.
My neighbor was busy helping his daughter off in another town (moving, I think) and the next night after he got home, he came and looked at it, couldn't find anything wrong with it. Next day, the lights started flickering and the light in my computer room made a LOUD pop and blew out. Kitchen lights went out too. I went out to check the breaker and it was tripped. When I reset it, the breaker popped and everything blew out. The next day, it was already getting dark but he came and checked everything. He didn't find anything in the dark. No electricity for 2 days. He came back to check something outside and said Call Alabama Power. When I called them, he took the phone and told them the service entry cable was broken, hanging by a very thing string and had already been spliced 3 times...I needed a new line run. That fixed some of it but then he found that the breaker to the kitchen was bad and replaced it. Before, the microwave smoked after 30 seconds. I finally tried it again this morning and it didn't smoke.
None of it makes sense to me but it's not supposed to me. I ever really wanted to know anything about electricity. Scares me to death!!!!
Just though I'd let you all know the outcome.
Thank you all for your suggestions and efforts to help. Very much appreciated.

dustie Loc: Nose to the grindstone

Sorry for your troubles. ☹️

Glad for your outcome. 😊

BebuLamar

That's what I thought. There was nothing wrong with the microwave oven. It's the power outlet or the power to your house.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Thank you Dustie. It's a good thing it happened when it did. It got that entry line replaced. I'm so glad for that.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Skinny corroded wires (the entrance ones) or poor connections don't let a lot of power through.
Line voltage to the appliances drops. Appliances don't like that.

One of my neighbors in Florida called me one time, she said all the lights are really BRIGHT, some blew, and the TV is not working. I went over to check it out. I found that he lost the neutral told her to turn off the main breaker and call the power company.. Turned out, out in the yard (underground utilities) the insulation was nicked upon installation and took years to have the wire dissolve and open. The power company replaced her blown appliances.
And ran new wires to the house.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

You're lucky Jo, it could have been a lot worse. Buy your neighbor a bottle of his favorite. He may have saved your house for you.

BebuLamar

Actually I think she has line voltage increased due to a loose connection.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

My lights got really bright but flickered, then went dim, then blew out. I put my bird in her small travel cage and put her with a bag of clothes and purse by the front door and slept on the couch in case I had to get out in a hurry. I was relieved that I didn't have to spend $10,000 or more to have the house rewired.
I owe my neighbor big time.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Blessed again Jack. It may not be the only problem but for now everything is working. I have been thinking for a year that my organ wouldn't play when I first turned it on because it was old and may have a loose wire. It's been that way for a year. Now it works like new again. It's a wonder it didn't burn up!
My neighbor will get home cooked meals with peach cobbler, blueberry cobbler, lemon pie, ice cream pie, strawberry shortcake...anything I cook I'll make sure there is enough for him too. He's sort of like having another son. There;s very little that my son is able to do to help.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Could be. Weak neutral line. Open neutral is disastrous. Open neutral puts devices in series across 240v.

We had a fan start to smell one time camping when the demand from all the A/C units was too great and the line voltage dropped drastically. We quit using it.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

It may be possible that I have more problems yet to be found. Time will tell.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

I was hoping that that fixed it but time will tell.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I hope you're done!

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Thanks a bunch. I do too. I have worked on this house ever since the day I moved in it. Most of it, I could do myself but anything electrical would be like wrestling with a Rattlesnake for me. I'd lose the battle!

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Glad it worked out for you Jo. A fire could have been a real issue!

Don