I need some help with power in my home!


This is a vulnerable question. I've been doing this hobby for way too long to not know the answer to this. I have seen lots of products marketed for power, but I've never had the need. But here we go...

The power in our house is really unstable. Lights flicker when I turn on the kettle. The space heater nearly takes us down. 

Is there some sort of regulator type thing that stores power and sends it safely and consistently to my stereos? Like a block that sits between the wall and all of my components?

128x128nickrobotron

Most power companies use aluminum wire from the transformer to the main service feeder wire. The problem with aluminum wiring throughout the house is it can loose a good connection over time with temperature changes it's called creep.

Maybe it’s just me but I think the diagnosis are getting ahead of themselves.

It’s hard to tell how much of the OP’s writing is hyperbole but I’ve had all of those problems without a loose incoming neutral or aluminum wiring.

In my cases, the flickering lights were caused by old switches, old backstabbed outlets and bad wiring in the panel.  Hard to tell which fixed which but fixing all three solved all my flickering problems.  Not an aluminum wiring or main breaker wiring issue.

 

The light switches were old and the neutrals in the panel had too many in one screw location. I fixed it with overkill and replaced the breakers with CAFCI breakers. Not needed but compliant with the latest NEC.

In the case of space heaters causing other issues, yeah, a lot of old homes have too few circuits for the appliances.

As many have recommended next step for the OP is the same: Hire a licensed electrician to come fix it.

Thanks, everybody. I did hire an electrician. He discovered that it was a gnarled incoming line to the house. Evergy came out and replaced it. I had the electrician put in dedicated circuits to both of my stereos. Everything is great now.

Seriously, thank you all. I put that off for way too long. $510 to fix a real and dangerous problem is money way better spent than some expensive component to save my stereo!