Ecbessa do you have solar panels or a wind turbine? Not that it should make any difference, but there might be a connection issue there that is causing some problems. No stone unturned.

 

See post #89: the circuits were exchanged, and that now the situation is reversed. "Half" was not adequately descriptive.
It is now evident that it is only one phase.

How can you say that after the TS confirmed this to me?

Yes most of the lights dimmed both before and after the phases were switched.

 

I'm wondering if there's a case of semantics: Instead of talking about half the lights, we need to know if a specific light dims. Doesn't matter which light you choose, just stick with it. Suppose the kitchen light dimmed before the swap but now after the swap it doesn't dim, it's a different light dimming.

If you have 10 lights and "Half" of them dim, then you swap the feeds and now "Half" the lights dim; are we talking about the same 5 lights or different lights? I'm making this as an example. I don't know about anybody else but I'm not sure you're saying the same exact lights dim regardless of the feed swap or if we're talking about some lights dim, then the swap, then OTHER lights dim and those that WERE dimming no longer dim.

My house has 14 lights. Before the phases were switched, 12 of them dimmed. The 2 that did not were a hall light and an office light (same circuit).

Now that the phases have been switched, 10 of them dim. Of the 4 that don't, the first 2 are kitchen lights (one circuit). The second two are bathroom lights (another circuit).

The two lights that used to not dim, the hall and the office lights, now do.

 

Ecbessa do you have solar panels or a wind turbine? Not that it should make any difference, but there might be a connection issue there that is causing some problems. No stone unturned.

No, neither.

 

Being a rural setting I am assuming it is an overhead service entrance. Do the wires happen to pass through a pine / coniferous tree? There is something about tree sap that will eat away wiring, but still provide enough conductivity to make everything work. It's not a common thing, but I have heard of it happening.

Not through, but yes under some pines.

 

How can you say that after the TS confirmed this to me?

Not the way that I read post #89.

 

Not through, but yes under some pines.

I wouldn't put much effort into it as the times I have heard about it the neutral was worn away which it doesn't sound like is the case here. From what I understand the sap won't eat the insulation... only the bare aluminum of the neutral.

It would seem if it was one of the power legs was being ate away it would create a dazzling spark show once it makes contact with the bare neutral.

If by any chance branches are rubbing on the wires it may be worth a shot to have the power company check it out assuming they haven't already done so and are willing to make a trip out just for that.

Keep in mind this is second hand information as an old friend of mine who does remodel work and such in the area told me of a few times this has happened when I first had mysterious problems with my own house.

 

Edit...

My ego pushed it's way in front of constructive discussion so I decided to remove what was said.

 

@Ecbessa hats off to you for trudging through a lot of bloat, recycled thoughts, and guesses. Intermittent issues are a challenge at best, and an absolute headache if not more at their worst.

 

Not the way that I read post #89.

Then read post #103. He clarified further. It cannot be one phase when 12 of 14 dimmed one way and 10 of 14 dimmed the other way.