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-   -   Partial power outage (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=53256)

  • Jan 8, 2007, 06:05 PM
    potter24
    Partial power outage
    At Any Given Time The Power Will Go Out Only In The Living Room (outlets, Fans, Lights Etc.) And Also A Couple Of The Outlets In The Kitchen That Include The Refrigerator, Stove And 2 Add'l Outlets, All Others Work. Also The Ac Goes Out. The Rest Of The House Works. We Have A Devise That Indicates Everything Is Fine When The Electric Is On But When It Goes Out It Reads "open Hot" Any Advise.
  • Jan 8, 2007, 06:13 PM
    Morrowrj
    Can you check your breaker box and see if all the devices that you "lose" are on one side of the panel? It sounds to me as if you may be losing a "leg" of your service. This would more than likely be from a loose connection based on your explanation.
  • Jan 8, 2007, 07:55 PM
    labman
    Yeah, losing one leg would kill all the 240 stuff except to the extent they ground through some of the 120 circuits on the dead leg. The open hot means no power to one of the 2 incoming hot wires. It is weird when you lose one leg.

    Better call an electrician or the power company. The problem likely is at the main breaker or before, outside the DIY area.

    As you go down the box, 1, 5, 9, etc. are on one leg, and 3, 7, 11, etc. are on the other. Thus 1 & 3 are on opposite legs often used with a double breaker.
  • May 10, 2007, 05:41 AM
    hay1280
    I assume that circuit breakers are not tripping (or fuse blowing) so this must be a loose connection. This can be very dangerous since considerable heat can be generated by a poor connection and there is usually no automatic protection to disconnect the circuit. This could start a fire. It could be in the power supply to your home or the house wiring.

    You should have an electrictian check things out. A clue to the location would be the smell of electrical insulation overheating... smell similar to a stalled electric motor or you drill motor when you work it too hard.

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