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I noticed two that two circuits cut off intermittanly but circuit breaker did not trip. I tested voltage with meter when the the problem was happening and found about five volts on both the incoming and outgoing side of every other breaker. I also tested the two wires coming into and out of the main breaker. One of the main wires going to the main breaker also showed about 5 volts when the problem was happening (tested the main wire before the breaker and coming out of the breaker both showed about 5 volts). When the problem is not happening all wires and breakers show about 115 volts. Does the fact the the voltage of one of the two main hot wiress showed 5 volts before it went into the Main breaker mean that the problem is befire my electric box and therefore the responsibility of the electric company?

UPDATE: Power company came out and said there was a bad connector on the roof. I am assuming it was where the wire from the pole connects to the wire coming into the meter and house. Thanks everyone.

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    If the problem was with the electric company side, it would affect at least half your circuits, rather than just two.
    – Ecnerwal
    Jul 22 at 16:35
  • Probably 70% plus chance it is power company problem, especially if you have overhead lines to the house. The rest could be between the meter and main panel.
    – crip659
    Jul 22 at 16:35
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    @Ecnerwal OP probably only tested the two circuits/outlets that gave them problems, not the whole house. OP also stated one main was low also.
    – crip659
    Jul 22 at 16:38
  • Do you have an electric water heater, 240V A/C unit, or other 240V load which operates cyclically automatically? Or, does the problem seem to fix itself when you turn on a 240V load like range or dryer?
    – Harper - Reinstate Monica
    Jul 23 at 0:58

1 Answer 1

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Only 5 volts from and incoming power line? Call the electric company now.

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  • Ecnerwal - it does affect half the circuits when I measured the voltage. Every other breaker has low voltage.
    – Lee Naqvi
    Jul 22 at 19:28
  • RMDman - Thank you for your response. Yes 5 volts intermittantly. Sometimes 115 volts sometimes 5 volts.
    – Lee Naqvi
    Jul 22 at 19:29
  • crip659- to clarify I tested all circuit breakers with meter half were 5 volts when the problem was happeneing. Alternating breakers had low voltage.
    – Lee Naqvi
    Jul 22 at 19:32
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    @LeeNaqvi yeah, that's a dead hot leg, call your power company and tell them you have a partial power outage -- they'll need to roll a truck to fix this.
    – ThreePhaseEel
    Jul 23 at 1:06

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