I have 4 outlets along 1 exterior wall. The outlets are on 2 seperate circuit breakers. None of them have been changed. All 4 when probed with a non contact voltage detector show power but none work. All of the other outlets and switches on these 2 circuits work. Not even sure where to begin to fix this.. any ideas?
Power in but none out...
- Thread starter Jland
- Start date
BillK
Well-known member
Get a "real" meter and start pulling the outlets out of the box and checking them.
It means the power feeding to them are broken some where in the chain... they are in parallel... both neutral and hot needs to be working for it to turn lights on.
me... I would try to figure out how these two are related. is the hot wire live on all these outlets. is the ground connected back to the panel.. is the neutral connected back to the panel? those kind of stuff.
Trock03
Well-known member
What are you using to determine that the 4 outlets aren't working anymore?
TC
TC
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
a non-contact voltage detector is not the proper tool for troubleshooting something like this. get a multimeter, T5-1000 or similar...
Innovate1
Well-known member
I am thinking the neutral may be open. Your non-contact detector indicates voltage on the hot lead but can't check the neutral. I would pull the one closest to the panel and see if the connections are good there. If so try to figure out where that is fed from and open that box and check connections.
You could also try a testing plug with multiple lights that show power and if the receptacle is wired properly. It should show the open neutral (or other issue).
You could also try a testing plug with multiple lights that show power and if the receptacle is wired properly. It should show the open neutral (or other issue).
didit
Well-known member
Switch the breakers off or remove them from the box, then check for continuity on each leg of each circuit. Just use common sense to determine how the wires were routed to supply each outlet. It is just a process of elimination in order to find the open in the circuit.
Thanls for the input guys.. what I am using to determine the outlets don't work is a palm sander.. that I know wprks because it works in multiple outlets in my garage. I do have a multi meter.. not a fluke, an extech. Where this whole thing is going sideways for me is how multiple outlets on multiple circuits have the same issue while other ourlets do not... I am considering hooking up a tone generator at the outlet on 1 end of the wall and probing the wires at the outlet on the other end and work my way thru them.. when I trip the breaker on 1 pair of outlets the power is not effected on the other 2. Is it possible the same ground runs thru 4 exterior outlets but the interior outlets on the same wall are not grounded the same?
HenryAZ
MEMBER EMERITUS
In addition to a multimeter, you should have one of these inexpensive outlet testers (one that also checks GFCI receptacles). Plug it in and the lights will show you if the outlet is working or not, and the lights on the device will indicate various fault conditions. It could give you a clue as to what is wrong, and what to start looking for with your multimeter.
Receptacle checker $6.99 at Amazon
Receptacle checker $6.99 at Amazon
ground don't prevent your power tools from running, might trigger a safety light... It's neutral or hot that is broken would have caused issue. some older house "might" use ground as neutral illegally... and what ever broke in those boxes probably shared the same wire. My guess it's either ground or neutral, from your description, (it's a guess, not there)
Extech are fine (my craftsman meter is an extech 470 rebrand), they are owned by FLIR I think, not everything needs to be a Fluke or Snapon, these type of stuff it's how you use your tools.
a long extension cord that can reach back to the breaker with the multi meter would have been a better tool than a tone generator IMO but that is me. Use what post #8 suggested...
If this is your own home, you are better off spending some time in mapping out your outlets, would have been much easier the next time around....
Google is your friend..........search: troubleshooting power outlets
No joke.....You will get several dozens articles in the handyman DIY magazines plus dozens of YouTube videos with techniques, tools required and safety protocols.
Pick 4-5 and watch them.......
No joke.....You will get several dozens articles in the handyman DIY magazines plus dozens of YouTube videos with techniques, tools required and safety protocols.
Pick 4-5 and watch them.......
rlitman
Well-known member
Exactly. The non-contact voltage detector detects voltage. Nothing more. It doesn't tell you about what the voltage is, or anything about resistance.
That's one possibility. A loose or open neutral is the most common cause of half of your house going dark, which fits the OP's issue well. Another symptom (often masked by LED lighting though), is when the lights suddenly get bright for no reason.
Also, loose neutrals are very dangerous conditions. Get this fixed now!
Terry D
Well-known member
Check for a lost neutral, Even though your non contact voltage detector is not the right tool for this, its giving you a clue that some sort of voltage is present. Get a meter that actually reads voltage. Since it sounds like you may be sharing a neutral between these to circuits, dont plug anything in them. First read from hot to neutral, if you have nothing, then try reading between hot and ground, assuming you have a ground in the circuit. If you have a ground and read 120 volts or close to it, with in a couple of volts, then you have lost a neutral. If you dont have a ground, then use a extension cord plugged into a good circuit, and use the neutral in this to read across the hot in the dead receptacle. If you read 120 volts it will confirm you lost a neutral.
Now you will have to find where you lost it at. I would start in the panel. If you are not comfortable with this, please call a professional. If your connection seems tight on the buss, then start removing receptacles to find it. It could also be in a j-box in the basement somewhere, depending how it is wired. Main thing is turn the circuits off and if you are not sure, hire a professional.
Now you will have to find where you lost it at. I would start in the panel. If you are not comfortable with this, please call a professional. If your connection seems tight on the buss, then start removing receptacles to find it. It could also be in a j-box in the basement somewhere, depending how it is wired. Main thing is turn the circuits off and if you are not sure, hire a professional.
Bigbandguy
Well-known member
A sudden interruption of a previously working circuit that has a functional breaker(check that too) might be because you have an unknown inhabitant (4 legged variety) busily using your wiring as a snack. Don't overlook this possibility if there is a chance of it.
nadogail
Well-known member
IMHO, all of this discussion seems to be about an open neutral.
The OP's problem is now to find it and fix it.
The OP's problem is now to find it and fix it.
My guess is also an open neutral. most likely a wire has come loose from an outlet or from under a wire nut/connection cover in a box somewhere along the circuit. Open each one up and visually check and tug on each wire after making sure there is no power there.
But when you turn off just 1 of the breakers how many of the outlets show power? In other words are you sure that you have those outlets on 2 different circuits?
Is there anything else on either of those two circuits which works?
But when you turn off just 1 of the breakers how many of the outlets show power? In other words are you sure that you have those outlets on 2 different circuits?
Is there anything else on either of those two circuits which works?
mark-NJ
Well-known member
OK...I'll be "that guy"...
If the OP needs to ask these questions, then the OP is not qualified to go hunting for an open neutral.
Hire a licensed electrician.
If the OP needs to ask these questions, then the OP is not qualified to go hunting for an open neutral.
Hire a licensed electrician.
Opinions vary..
Open neutral appears to be the issue.. my nephew replaced a gf outlet and likely didn't connect the neutral properly for these outlets.. thanks for all the "constructive" input. Much of the info i shared came from my nephew, as he is now in hus 30's with a wife and kid i thought his judgement had improved.. sadly he is still the same knucklehead he was at 18. While i freely admit to being no electrician, asking a question before i dive into something is, to me at least, prudent. To make a judgement about someones ability based solely on asking a question is... yea, i will be that guy, foolish. Again, thanks for all the help
Terry D
Well-known member
Glad to see you got it fixed and it was a simple repair. There is nothing wrong with asking questions and wanting to learn. That is what this forum is for
Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
.... OK if it was a problem with neutral .... from your description. 4 outlet have no power and two of them goes to one breaker, and the other two goes to the another breaker.... one neutral wire fixed... you know that means something is sharing neutral...
Might be a problem might not be a problem.. but if they are sharing probably a problem.
but anyways good that mystery is solved.