BMW
X1 / X2
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BIMMERPOST Universal Forums Off-Topic Discussions Board Home electrical question

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      09-04-2019, 09:24 AM   #1
Yapakanichi
Monkey Marshall
Yapakanichi's Avatar
621
Rep
218
Posts

Drives: 2005 Z4 3.0i
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: FL

iTrader: (0)

Home electrical question

Why would my main house fuse buzz when I turn on my kitchen lights? Not the kitchen fuse, but the main one. They are track lights. I've replaced the power unit on it. The lights buzz too. They are LED bulbs.
Appreciate 0
      09-04-2019, 10:05 AM   #2
jlstyle
Lieutenant Colonel
jlstyle's Avatar
355
Rep
1,762
Posts

Drives: Porsche Panamera
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2014 Audi S7  [0.00]
2015 BMW X5  [0.00]
From my experience, cheaper ones buzz when dimmed and sometime buzz even at full power. When you say fuse, are you talking about switch or the breaker at the panel?
Appreciate 1
      09-04-2019, 10:06 AM   #3
Yapakanichi
Monkey Marshall
Yapakanichi's Avatar
621
Rep
218
Posts

Drives: 2005 Z4 3.0i
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: FL

iTrader: (0)

breaker
Appreciate 0
      09-04-2019, 12:40 PM   #4
overcoil
Major General
3069
Rep
5,577
Posts

Drives: M235i 6spd
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Mid-Atlantic

iTrader: (0)

Bad neutral
Appreciate 2
Rmtt8206.00
Hawkeye2069.50
      09-04-2019, 01:37 PM   #5
Rmtt
Colonel
Rmtt's Avatar
United_States
8206
Rep
2,250
Posts

Drives: 2011 BMW 128i, 2008 LS3 C6
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: South Carolina

iTrader: (3)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottSinger View Post
Bad neutral
Exactly. To get technical...A Neutral is a "bonding ground" that eventually ties in to a "bonded ground" or your ground wire in the panel.

I'm on my phone and can't see your location. But typically in the US for 220V/110V panels,the Hot will be black and coming off of your breaker, the Neutral will be White and will be tied into a bar inside the panel with other white wires. That bar is bonded to the ground bar where all your Greens (grounds) are attached.

Since the Neutral carries the residual voltage or any other imbalances back to the panel to eventually ground itself, it can do some crazy things if not connected securely.

If you plan to check it, make sure you test the circuit even after cutting the breaker off with a meter. Neutrals will sometimes be shared in the field where they aren't supposed to be. So you can turn off your breaker and still have voltage sitting on the Neutral.

I've rarely seen it in homes, but in plants....especially older facilities....I have seen some screwed up wiring and that kind of stuff will get you hurt.
__________________
Everybody has a gameplan....until they get punched in the mouth.
Appreciate 4
DETRoadster11446.00
Hawkeye2069.50
      09-04-2019, 02:33 PM   #6
DETRoadster
Space Force - 4 Star General
DETRoadster's Avatar
11446
Rep
3,264
Posts

Drives: M2 MG 6MT / Moto Guzzi V7
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Seattle

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rmtt View Post
If you plan to check it, make sure you test the circuit even after cutting the breaker off with a meter. Neutrals will sometimes be shared in the field where they aren't supposed to be. So you can turn off your breaker and still have voltage sitting on the Neutral.
Words of wisdom right there. I found that out the hard way after I turned off the breaker to the lighting circuit in my shop and proceeded to cut and existing circuit in half to splice into it for an additional light above my workbench. Just about shit my pants. Will never make that mistake again. Glad it was only 110v.
Appreciate 3
eluded2959.00
Rmtt8206.00
      09-04-2019, 04:27 PM   #7
TheWatchGuy
Colonel
TheWatchGuy's Avatar
3905
Rep
2,524
Posts

Drives: 335xi
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: CO

iTrader: (0)

mmmm neutrals.

nothing better than getting shocked over and over as you try to figure out where the fuck it is coming from...

or do it the safe way and kill power to everything and ohm the wire out. youll be able to tell what is going on with the neutral safely this way. Just sometimes takes longer and 110 makes you feel alive.
__________________
@drunkcowatches on ig

Am I a watch guy, or do i watch guys?
Appreciate 1
eluded2959.00
      09-04-2019, 10:46 PM   #8
eluded
2JZ-GTE
eluded's Avatar
Bulgaria
2959
Rep
3,948
Posts

Drives: 340 6MT, 50e, others
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Sofia

iTrader: (0)

Could be a bad breaker. I've replaced two on my house.

Did you replace with normal bulbs and see if it goes away? If it is a dimming switch is it compatible with LED
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2019, 04:30 AM   #9
Oreen0
New Member
5
Rep
14
Posts

Drives: E90
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Surabaya

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheWatchGuy View Post
mmmm neutrals.

nothing better than getting shocked over and over as you try to figure out where the fuck it is coming from...

or do it the safe way and kill power to everything and ohm the wire out. youll be able to tell what is going on with the neutral safely this way. Just sometimes takes longer and 110 makes you feel alive.
+1
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:58 PM.




xbimmers
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST