Wife was complaining that my UPS in the garage kept making a clunking sound and then the lights would flicker.

So I went down and watched, and sure enough the lights would flicker and the UPS would clunk. Looking over the voltages I would see a 20v drop and then it would come back. I happen to have a UPS on the 2nd leg of our box so I watched that one, and the voltage never shifted.

Turned off the breaker box, pulled the cover, pulled the breaker in question. boom, clearly it was a corroded contact causing higher resistance, and heat, and causing brownouts.

$8 later were back up and running, and I can sleep safer knowing at least THAT breaker is not going to start a fire.

  • username_1@programming.dev
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    9 days ago

    If inserting a plug feels loose then just bend the contacts. No need to replace anything if looseness is the only problem.

    • infinitevalence@discuss.onlineOP
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      9 days ago

      umm… no. Because if its loose that means the internal springs have worn out and are not firmly holding the blades on the plug. You can try a different plug and see if its just as loose in the receptacle but if it is, then you need to replace! Now i will make exceptions for Christmas lights because the blades on those are so thin and weak they often require adjustment.