u/AnalystTop5096

Whole house dims under load. It is a gamble when it will happen. It happens sometimes when using the microwave and other times we can use the microwave without aoccurring. It's not just the microwave that causes issues - any load can cause it and with many variables.

All lines have been tightened including mains multiple times. All small breakers have been checked for damage. All appliances and outlets have been checked.

Meter has been pulled and tested with the ST800. Came back good.

There is damage on the indoor bus.

The main lines will read at uneven levels 140 on one leg and 118 on the other when the issue is occuring.

I KNOW this sounds like a loose or damaged neutral, but one hasn't been found with several investigations.

Here is my main issue;

I can check the indoor panel and find the uneven loads on the main legs, I have checked it outdoors as well to find the same issue; moments later, literally having done NOTHING other than stick my multimeter to the leads, the issue stops for an indeterminate amount of time - at this point days. Sometimes just resetting the main brraker inside corrects the issue. The main breaker inside has a slight intermittent buzz.

Should I suspect the main indoor breaker at this point or is it more likely there is unseen damage to my 15 foot run of wire buried under the house? Any other ideas of what could be the cause? No one seems to want to take the time to figure it out until things get worse.

I really need to know where to focus my time and money with confidence so my house doesn't burn down.

Local electricians have been out twice and poco has been out twice at this point. I am also a former electrician in poor health and can only do so much on my own at this point.

I worked as an Electrician for about 8 years and have been out of the job for roughly 4 now due to health issues so I'm doubting my knowledge since I'm out of practice. Here's where I am:

- Lights in living room and kitchen (connected circuits) began dimming with use of microwave/air fryer; checked the kitchen circuit and changed the breaker. "Fixed" for about a month.

- Lights began dimming again and now the entire house would brown out or bog down again when kitchen circuit was drawing a load. Divided the loads on the bus on the indoor panel to be more equal on each leg, tightened everything inside and out including the mains and on all the breakers. Went over everything with my multi-meter and found nothing unusual. Called an Electrician to double check as well as the Electric company to check their end of the line. Power company guy tightened the wires in the outdoor panel. Electrician and I found damage on the bus bar on the indoor panel and moved breakers off the damage. (Suspected lose neutral or failing compressor in refrigerator) "Fixed" for about a day.

- While the issue was happening I checked the voltage on the lines 113 on one leg and 140 on the other - variations are normal, but this was a concerning difference. Called the power company out a second time (within minutes of seeing this issue) they pulled the meter and ran the ST800, checked the voltage on the outdoor box, tightened everything there, checked the indoor panel, found nothing wrong and the issue was not present. Issue was "corrected for 2 days" (Now suspecting a loose neutral or a main breaker failing because the issue seems to get better when power is reset)

- The issue now is that the house bogs down, "browns out", AND/OR the lights will brighten under load.

I know this sounds like a loose neutral somewhere and we have more investigations to do, but I need help debating on whether or not it would be beneficial to replace the indoor panel with damaged bus, or simply chase down which main breaker is possibly failing, or admit there is a loose neutral on one end of the other and keep hounding the electric company until they physically lay eyes on the underground line running to my house (I should have mentioned we were subject to many trees falling and flooding last year as well as the house being struck by lightning before these issues arose.), and hounding other electricians to hunt down a damaged line within the house. Not sure which route to go with this.

TLDR; house is acting like there is a loose neutral, power company says it isn't on their side, but the unequal voltage is showing on incoming. Should I also suspect a main breaker or decide which electrician to harass (Power Company / Residential tech)?