Weird Electrical Problem (home, kitchen, working)

[magnets]

I have a weird electrical problem in my house. Here's the story.

Upstairs I am working on my APC surge protected computer. Downstairs on a completely different electrical circuit my wife turns on the TV. My surge protector immediately turns off!

I run an extension cord to another circuit and my surge protector is unaffected by my wife turning on and off the TV.

The circuit breaker never popped off during this process.

My son reports that he has observed lights dimming in his music room on occasion. That has been going on for a couple weeks. I've also noticed strange operation of the microwave in the kitchen recently as well.

Any clues as to what might be wrong? What should I test?

[Ollie1946]

you should test nothing. if you were an electrician, i doubt you would be asking for opinions here. a neighbor's home recently was gutted and their 3 dogs were killed due to an "electrical problem" which they kept putting off. they barely escaped themselves. CALL AN ELECTRICIAN IN ASAP!

[southgeorgia]

you're losing a neutral.

call an electrician to trace it. discontinue use of the microwave on that circuit or it will be permanently damaged.

[Intergalactic]

Somewhere in your walls is a crackling, sputtering electrical short that wants to become a fire.

[southgeorgia]

Originally Posted by Intergalactic

Somewhere in your walls is a crackling, sputtering electrical short that wants to become a fire.

no. its not a short.

see my post above.

[gaflsc]

Try sticking a fork into an outlet. Observe.