No power to garage outlet

[azula]

So, I plan on installing the liftmaster 8500 soon and I'm getting everything ready. I noticed that I had a blank cover in my garage ceiling in the same location the 8500 will be installed. I removed the cover and saw wires for an outlet (ground, neutral, and line) yay! Only problem is that there is no power going to that location, arrggh. I tried a voltage meter (two of them) and i'm getting nothing. I also wired up an outlet with no luck. I ensured all breakers are on and I do have power going to my other outlet in the center of my ceiling (the outlet where the current opener is installed. My house is a newer model home, built in 2006. Sorry for the crappy photo but I was trying to get both outlet locations in the same picture. Any advice?? I really don't want to run an extension cord

 

[Dustball]

You'll have to go in the attic and trace the cable going from the dead GDO box and see where it's disconnected.

 

[azula]

Siiigh, I figured and therein lies the major problem....It's a two story home, no attic space.

Also upon closer inspection, I also noticed that I have three separate wires containing hot, neutral and ground coming into the box without power.

 

[Syberia]

Check inside the GDO outlet box and make sure there isn't a second set of wires that's not connected to anything? Back stab that came undone? Without access to the attic, though, you're just going to be guessing how things are wired up.

Sent from my Tricorder using Tapatalk

 

[bloomingtonmike]

Did you try flipping all wall switches and testing?

 

[The Cobbler]

look in other outlets as well , maybe it was run to another outlet or switch box & not connected...

 

[Dustball]

look in other outlets as well , maybe it was run to another outlet or switch box & not connected...

I agree, check the other boxes in the area for disconnected wires or look for a junction box with a blank cover.

 

[azula]

Thanks so much for the help! I figured it out.....the dead outlet isn't an outlet at all, it is a junction box for my garage wall lights (DUH). So my plan is to leave the switch for the outside lights on, wire an outlet in the junction box for the 8500, and buy some "dusk til dawn" bulbs for my garage wall lights. Does that sounds okay?

 

[big.jim]

look in your breaker board as well for a spare set that havent been connected

 

[gml1998]

Is the house done in conduit? If so just pull another wire for a constant hot feed.

 

[gml1998]

Or install a switch for the lights and an outlet in the junction box. Then bypass original switch and use new switch for lights.

 

[azula]

Thanks for the ideas, I will try the dusk til dawn bulbs first and if that doesn't work out for some reason, I'll just install another switch for the lights. Thanks again for your help!

 

[raddksn]

This is exactly what I like about counduit!