After your discription of your problem, I'm about 95% sure you have a breaker switch that needs replacing. Your breaker is designed to trip if it has a "power surge" The problem with your breaker is that it is corroding at the 2 points it gets electricty from the main box. Those 2 places are, where the wire connects to one side of the breaker and where the breaker attaches to the center post power supply inside of the main box. Every time your lights flicker in your home, A spark happens at the breaker. Every spark that happens leaves a tiny amount of dirt and carbon deposits at those 2 points. There are several reasons for the sparking. Mostly due to when two different types of metal used in electrical boxes and breakers are Aluminum and Brass which are typical in home electrical use. There is a natural corrosion that occurs. Your problem is common in most households. By your discription of how bad the power fluxuations are, your breaker, usually just one, is in severe need of replacement. Thankfully, breakers are inexpensive and easy to replace. And, don't be supprised if your not replacing that same breaker in just a few years. Not a big deal.. Replaceing it takes only a few minutes anyway. Just be careful to shut off the MAIN switch before you do. I recommend that you clean the wire that attaches to one side of the breaker with some sand paper or cleaning abrasive. And at the point of the MAIN POWER BAR with a nail file to remove the carbon and dirt before you put in the new breaker. You want all of the connections VERY clean before you put in your new breaker. It's really important... When you go to get a new breaker switch at the hardware store, consider getting a tube of " GB OX-GARD ". It is a creme that prevents corosion of your new breaker and making it last longer. A small tube runs about $5 and will be found in most electrical store aisles. Smear a little creme on the 2 connections of the breaker before you attach the wire and at the center power post. Take your time. Do a good job, and your repair will last a long time. Total cost for parts will be under $20.00. Repair time for you about 1 hour. Experiance.. Priceless, cause you likely will have to do it again in your lifetime. If you call an electrician. He maybe say you needed a whole new box and labor and you'd be payin' him about $2500.00. You can reach me at jcecka@aol.com with a subject line of "breakers". Always glad to help with this project. But REMEMBER to shut of the MAIN breakers and check the all household power is OFF before you do anything... Jeff...