Similar thread below.

First of all your problem sounds pretty serious. Brownouts lasting 10-20 seconds means theres arcing going on someplace for 12-20 seconds. That is a fire waiting to happen, and you're lucky it hasn't happened already. Shut off the main breaker and don't turn it back on again till your wiring has been inspected by a licensed electrician. The fact that you've let it flicker for years can't make things better. Having warm walls in the house is even more ominous. Sounds to me like you have some serious and potentially dangerous problems.

I also don't understand why people always seem to want to replace circuit breakers whenever there is a problem. In reality, circuit breakers very rarely fail. If one of the bathroom lights is flickering, why not replace the fixture, or at least check to see that the connections are secure? Surely this seems more logical than replacing a breaker?

whale, I'm inclined to agree with rt, and my apologies for givin' you the brush-off. Circuit breakers do indeed go bad, but it is so very rare, it's about the last thing to suspect. Absent an actual fire (sh*t oh dear), warm walls are extremely rare too, and generally send me to dialing 911!

Your electrical system is old, and I dare say, decrepit. By today's Code, even your 90A "heavy up" would not meet the minimum level of service. I expect you're looking at some up-grades in '08, or thereabouts.

Cheer up, you're in good company. Lots of old houses around. They have their charms, but wiring just ain't one of them. You need to begin researching electrical contractors in your area.

Thanks for the information.
To be clear: the warm wall issue was resolved almost 20 years ago. Nothing like it since then. And yes, the longer dimming got my attention. Of course I haven't seen a single flicker now in 24 hours. Still, I intend to do something asap as my superhero fireproof coating wore off some time back.

The same question arises. The problem does not affect other lighting circuits using incandescent bulbs, thus it is specific to one or more circuits. How can I measure for the problem? Voltage stays the same.. ( it's been 30 years since all of the school electrical shoppe merry making occurred ) I recall that current=volts/resistance. but can't remember how to apply that to 'see' the problem. Then see if it is affecting any non lighting circuits in the house.

There was a fair bit of silver/white metallic flakes on the breaker below the one I pulled out which came from the old one.. I'm not sure what to make of the fact that the problem got 'worse' after replacing the breaker and now has disappeared. Once I can test all of the circuits I'll have a better view of the issue and act accordingly.

I do have an electrician I trust who put the 200 amp service in half a year ago, and will call him if I don't feel adequate for the repair. ( can't crawl for one ) But as indicated ( I think ?) I'm getting back into handyman work as a way to keep busy when I 'retire'. Wiring, at least for myself, falls into that category.

Thanks for any advise you might offer.

200-amp service half a year ago? What's up with that? Yer confusing me.

You sound like a reasonable guy, and motivated, so hit the books. Suggest one called "Wiring Simplified" or something (I forget) and of course Mullin's "Electrical Wiring Residential." Both have been around forever, and are excellent. Educate yourself, but know when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em. Comes time to hire a professional, y'know.

For now, I'll offer this. Your new 200-amp service panel should have plenty of space for new circuits. Identify, classify, and separate the circuitry. Plan things out, and look in the book before you cook (oops, poor choice of words). One more thing: stay outa' the attic, man, it's nasty. And wear a hard-hat. Protect yer noggin.

Ummmm. . . I forgot to mention that. :[ Apologies. I saved up to upgrade my electrical service from 90 amp to 200 or more: next is a good compressor from www.eatoncompressor.com. I bought the blasting cabinet years ago but found my tiny 3.5 hp compressor only allowed me to use the smallest nozzle in the cabinet. So I'm 2/3 of the way there. Then I can start restoring a couple of old trucks.

> For now, I'll offer this.

Thanks! I appreciate it. As to the new main box: that's where I plan to run the circuit for the compressor and air drier. I plan on using said electrician for that run. I'm just starting back with wiring after, ahem, decades.

> One more thing: stay outa' the attic, man, it's nasty.

I know. I often run network cabling in such places. For my house I'll have to enlarge the attic access panel as it's approx 1' x 2' and I don't fit through that. Not sure if I ever did, but definitely not now.

Any thoughts on the change after the new breaker installed? I haven't seen a single flicker in any light today. I had reached the point where I was not using overhead lights almost at all. Now they all seem just ducky, happy as clams in their shells.

Well, all I can say is I was lucky.
The new circuit breaker appears to have pushed things to a head. Two nights ago I was in the kitchen with the door to the garage open, preparing to feed the dogs. We all heard a loud pop which sounded half like a large can of food falling flat on it's lid and half like an electrical pop that I recognize but can't identify.

We all went 10' to see what happened: No smoke, No rodents present, no cans of food on the floor. I checked the 90 amp 'service' which still had the cover panel off : no smoke, no arcing, nada.

I now realize that the noise was the short killing itself. Since that point none of the ceiling lights flicker.

Thank you for your info, and specifically for the book references.

Paul