Finishing my basement bathroom remodel with new GFI, USB, light and fan. I figured out the new GFI vs old and had everything installed and ready to test. Bring SWMBO down for the big reveal, TADA, only to be greeted with flickering lights. First thought is what did I touch last, must be my fault then noticed that three other lights fixtures were also flickering. Each of them flicker independently and together so I figured it wasn't one of them causing the rest to flicker.
Must be the breaker, so I cycled it about ten times and it got better but still there. Are breakers supposed to sound like tiny bacon frying? Is this safe, she asks. It's not ideal, I mean the sizzling is in the breaker that is in the panel so It will probably be ok. Fortunately for me I had a spare and promptly swapped it out. Then came the realization that these lights have been flickering for several years and I kept blaming it on the CF bulbs or fluorescent fixtures. All is well now, don't forget to update any 60 year old breakers. Maybe just hit the panel with a stethoscope every now and then.
I suspect there is an imminent threat of Demogorgon.
I suspect that any breakers that either sound or smell like frying bacon should be replaced.
ShawnG
MegaDork
1/14/25 9:35 a.m.
Is this a Federal panel?
If so, you might want to think about replacing it in the future.
In reply to brandonsmash :
That was honestly my first thought, actually Jamie's but I agreed. Dismissed due to lack of heavy fog.
In reply to ShawnG :
Square D, upgraded 200 amp in 2009, just some of the breakers are old.
I would check the fan. Maybe disconnect the wires and verify the connections.
I've had a breaker not be compatible with GFCI outlets.
If in doubt, as you found, it's easy and fairly inexpensive to change the breaker on most modern-ish breaker boxes. My garage circuit kept popping the breaker whenever I used my air compressor. I lived with that for a few years before it occurred to me to change the breaker, and problem solved!
About a year later, the lights in our kitchen were suddenly dim, and half the house had no power. I checked the breaker box, and could hear the sizzling bacon sound. I pulled the cover off, and there was a terrifyingly bright glow from the backside of the breakers! The 25 year-old box had reached the end of the road - $4.5K later (the electrician did have it replaced in one day) we had a new box with current code grounding and no worries about fires for at least a while.
Sometimes, wires pop loose, and the zapping sound is literally the wire vibrating against the bus bar. Power off the house, reconnect the offending wire, power back on.
