Noisy Phone (speaker?)

We have a Panasonic cordless set of phones. In the last month, we've
noted that occasionally the ringer (speaker, I suppose) sounds very
rough. My wife finally put it on another circuit for nearly a month. No
problems.

I think it's another device on the circuit that causes the problem.
Here's what's on that circuit.

The kitchen circuit containing the phone plug includes:
1. Kitchen outlets (but not lights) on the north wall, i.e., next to the
half bath. Includes refrigerator.
2. Outlet over the dishwasher (gfci circuit).
3. Outside plug on deck.
4. Outlet in the kitchen

An occasional problem, always the hardest to find.
But how about the refrigerator.

W. eWatson wrote:
We have a Panasonic cordless set of phones. In the last month, we've
noted that occasionally the ringer (speaker, I suppose) sounds very
rough. My wife finally put it on another circuit for nearly a month. No
problems.

I think it's another device on the circuit that causes the problem.
Here's what's on that circuit.

The kitchen circuit containing the phone plug includes:
1. Kitchen outlets (but not lights) on the north wall, i.e., next to the
half bath. Includes refrigerator.
2. Outlet over the dishwasher (gfci circuit).
3. Outside plug on deck.
4. Outlet in the kitchen

Divide (by two) and conquer!

Suggest place the phone unit back on the
'kitchen circuit'.

* Confirm that the ringer still sounds rough
   even if you have to borrow a cell phone to
   call yourself.

* Unplug the fridge and anything plugged into
   the kitchen outlets and the outlet on the
   deck.

* Discover if the symptom is still present.
   If it is, unplug everything that remains, like
   the sink disposer the RO water purifier,
   the dish washer and test once more.

* If the symptom disappeared, plug in the
   fridge and add the unplugged loads, testing
   once more for each device until the symptom
   reappears.

* If the symptom is still present,
   turn off the 'kitchen circuit' at
   the breaker panel and disconnect the GFCI
   outlet.  Tape off the wires and turn the
   circuit back on.  Test once more.

* If the symptom disappeared, consider the
   GFCI outlet and any additional outlets
   that it powers, in the kitchen *or elsewhere*.

--Winston

George Herold wrote:

(...)

An occasional problem, always the hardest to find.
But how about the refrigerator.

You could test with the compressor running.
Adjust the fridge control a couple degrees
warmer than usual and let it settle at the
higher temperature for a day or so.

Tweak the control back down a couple degrees.
After a short delay, the compressor will come
on.

That's when you call the answering machine
and see if the fridge is the culprit.

Also beware that this intermittent problem might
be with the phone itself. :)

Do other phones on the same line emit
a distorted 'ring' sound?

--Winston
The trouble with the unplugging the refrig is that the problem is

On 12/14/2011 8:42 PM, Winston wrote:
George Herold wrote:

(...)

An occasional problem, always the hardest to find.
But how about the refrigerator.

You could test with the compressor running.
Adjust the fridge control a couple degrees
warmer than usual and let it settle at the
higher temperature for a day or so.

Tweak the control back down a couple degrees.
After a short delay, the compressor will come
on.

That's when you call the answering machine
and see if the fridge is the culprit.

Also beware that this intermittent problem might
be with the phone itself. :)

Do other phones on the same line emit
a distorted 'ring' sound?

--Winston
The trouble with the unplugging the refrig is that the problem is
somewhat intermittent. We'd have a lot of food spoilage.

The trouble with the unplugging the refrig is that the problem is
somewhat intermittent. We'd have a lot of food spoilage.