Electricians step on in...

[Yadkin]

One circuit in the house does the receptacles in the great room and two ceiling mounted receptacles powering shop lamps in the garage below. The shop lamps are twin 4' T8 tubes, for a total of 136 watts. The fixtures are probably ten years old and I just replaced the four bulbs about two months ago.

A few weeks ago the fluorescent lamps started intermittent flashing. Oddly, together, but no other lamps on that circuit (all are LED screw-in bulbs). Usually after about an hour or more.

I plugged an LED shop light in the same receptacle as of one of the fluorescents and it started flashing in unison with both fluorescent lamps.

Then I used my shop stethoscope (a long screwdriver) to listen to the breaker. It was making noise in unison with the lamp issue.

I replaced the breaker, and the issue is resolved.

I understand that breakers can wear out. This one was 20 years old. But why only affect two lamp locations?

[Unsuspicious]

Physics

[MadInNc]

Call @Aerovette to fix and explain

[VatorMan]

Ok-a little electrical 101. Most loads are inductive-which means voltage leads current. However, lately due to the advance of leds, loads are becoming reactive (current leads voltage)

Your house wiring is inductive. Small neutrals and grounds. You are changing the house load from inductive to reactive.

How to solve your issue? Pull a super neutral to the bonded collector in the panel.

[Bruze]

What's long, hard, and full of seamen?

YOUR BREAKER.

YW.

[higgyburners]

Assembled in Mexico....

[Allan]

I'm the only one in 4 generations of males who became/are electricians (both union & non-union) that didn't become an electrician.
I know the difference btwn a flathead and phillips head screwdriver and Blk and & White wires. That's it!
I was the family outcast - I became a LEO!

[Dan47]

Here ya go. You’re welcome.

[ZipZap]

Originally Posted by VatorMan

Ok-a little electrical 101. Most loads are inductive-which means voltage leads current. However, lately due to the advance of leds, loads are becoming reactive (current leads voltage)

Your house wiring is inductive. Small neutrals and grounds. You are changing the house load from inductive to reactive.

How to solve your issue? Pull a super neutral to the bonded collector in the panel.

Interesting. I'd like to read more, as I was taught all ac winding (Inductive) loads were reactive. I would tend to believe we are transitioning from a reactive system to a resistive system based on the use of LED's and other elements that are basically dc. The little circuit in the bulb makes sense of the ac, but it would be interesting to see the reactance of the circuit. At 60Hz, it's likely invisible.

[ZipZap]

It works. Walk away. I have all those $50 arc fault breakers. I may try a penny before I replace any.