Multiple electrical outlets not working...

Cherokeekid88

Cherokeekid88

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2007
Location
High Point, NC
So last night, I realized that our outside electrical outlet wasn't turning on our deck lights. I then realized our downstairs bathroom outlet and both upstairs bathroom outlets were not working this morning. I checked the GFCI outlet downstairs in the kitchen and reset it, but it didn't work. I then checked the fuse panel and saw no tripped breakers, but I flipped the correct breaker for those outlets and still nothing. So am I looking at needing to replace that particular breaker? If so, is this something a person who knows absolutely nothing about electrical work can do? or so I need a pro?
 
grapehead said:
Age of gfci outlet? They wear out.
Click to expand...
At least 10 years old (The amount of time we've lived in the house)

benmack1 said:
Look for a 2nd GFCI somewhere that you aren't aware of. Probably tripped. Do any of the exterior outlets have a GFCI in the box?
Click to expand...
I don't think we have a second one, but I could be wrong. I will look. I know before when our bathroom outlets weren't working, we would just reset the GFCI outlet in the kitchen and it would work. We only have the one outdoor outlet and it isn't GFCI.


This might be a dumb question, but if the GFCI was bad, would the actual outlet still work? I have under cabinet lights hooked up to it as well as our coffee maker and both work just fine.
 
Use a voltmeter and start checking for 110V along the line. Start at the breaker, make sure 110V is coming out of the breaker. Then try to find the first outlet in the circuit. Test the line side of the GFCI first then the load side. If you have 110V on the line but nothing on the load, replace the GFCI.
 
GFCI receptacle crapped out, mostly likely
 
cranbiz said:
Use a voltmeter and start checking for 110V along the line. Start at the breaker, make sure 110V is coming out of the breaker. Then try to find the first outlet in the circuit. Test the line side of the GFCI first then the load side. If you have 110V on the line but nothing on the load, replace the GFCI.
Click to expand...
What language are you speaking!? : )
 
Cherokeekid88 said:
What language are you speaking!? : )
Click to expand...
Cherokeekid88 said:
So this is the actual outlet you talking about right with the reset and test buttons right?

How difficult are these to replace?
Click to expand...
These two go hand in hand. Sounds like you need an electrician or at least a handy man. No offense meant but getting electrocuted or burning your house down isn't a thing I would play with.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
These two go hand in hand. Sounds like you need an electrician or at least a handy man. No offense meant but getting electrocuted or burning your house down isn't a thing I would play with.
Click to expand...
Nah, none taken. I've replaced a few lights inside and outside the house, but as far as getting more involved than that, I just don't know about that stuff. Of course, I know better to make sure all power is off to that section I am working on, but just not comfortable with saying "How hard could it be" and messing something up.
 
Had a similar problem and took awhile to find, ended up two different causes.
We found that there were outlets in line before the GFI outlets in our Kitchen. Builder also used the receptacles where you push in the stripped wire no screw connection used on the side. These have failed in several places around our house.
 
As others have said, could be a GFCI outlet that's finally givin up. Or...a linked GFCI that's tripped. 2 common places:
If you have a garage, check those outlets.
If you have a crawlspace and either a HVAC unit or water heater in the crawl space, check the outlet next to that
 
Honesty I'd ook around for a tripped gfi as @CasterTroy mentioned.
Attic, crawl space, garage, bathroom, kitchen any " wet location" - if you find a GFI tripped reset it and see if it brings you joy.

If not - based on your responses - I wouldn't start taking anything apart. GFI daisy chain circuits are pretty simple, but they are also just complex enough that Ive seen several "electricians" be stumped by them.
If I were you and I couldnt find a tripped GFI I'd call and write a check.
 
Ron said:
Honesty I'd ook around for a tripped gfi as @CasterTroy mentioned.
Attic, crawl space, garage, bathroom, kitchen any " wet location" - if you find a GFI tripped reset it and see if it brings you joy.

If not - based on your responses - I wouldn't start taking anything apart. GFI daisy chain circuits are pretty simple, but they are also just complex enough that Ive seen several "electricians" be stumped by them.
If I were you and I couldnt find a tripped GFI I'd call and write a check.
Click to expand...
That sounds like a plan and a half!
 
Ron said:
Honesty I'd ook around for a tripped gfi as @CasterTroy mentioned.
Attic, crawl space, garage, bathroom, kitchen any " wet location" - if you find a GFI tripped reset it and see if it brings you joy.

If not - based on your responses - I wouldn't start taking anything apart. GFI daisy chain circuits are pretty simple, but they are also just complex enough that Ive seen several "electricians" be stumped by them.
If I were you and I couldnt find a tripped GFI I'd call and write a check.
Click to expand...

Beyond that, nothing worse than trying to troubleshoot some issue after someone else has pulled everything apart and tried to put it back together
 
braxton357 said:
Beyond that, nothing worse than trying to troubleshoot some issue after someone else has pulled everything apart and tried to put it back together
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't want to be that guy. I've taught myself alot of stuff, but electrical isn't one of them. My brother in law dabbles in electrical work as well, So I will pick his brain a little and see if he could stop by and take a look.
 
braxton357 said:
Beyond that, nothing worse than trying to troubleshoot some issue after someone else has pulled everything apart and tried to put it back together
Click to expand...
I was in O'Reilly Auto a few weeks ago and a guy came in with a q-jet in a box that he couldn't get back together. Like the kids behind the counter have ever seen one before.
 
Maybe I'm crazy but shouldn't all of these be on different circuits? Unless a lot of bootyfab wiring has been done, an outside socket would not be on the same circuit as a bathroom, which would also be different from a kitchen.

@Cherokeekid88 have you ever taken the time to map out the circuits to know what is on each one? That is a pretty simple procedure that doesn't require the chance of killing yourself, and would be informative in a situation like this.
 
RatLabGuy said:
Maybe I'm crazy but shouldn't all of these be on different circuits? Unless a lot of bootyfab wiring has been done, an outside socket would not be on the same circuit as a bathroom, which would also be different from a kitchen.

@Cherokeekid88 have you ever taken the time to map out the circuits to know what is on each one? That is a pretty simple procedure that doesn't require the chance of killing yourself, and would be informative in a situation like this.
Click to expand...
Not uncommon to have all the GFCI receptacles share circuits. I'd prefer they weren't daisy chained off a single GFCI receptacle, though. If the receptacle at the front door doesn't work, you're not likely to wonder if the GFCI at the back deck has tripped. Better to have a GFCI breaker or have a GFCI receptacle at each location.
 
shawn said:
Not uncommon to have all the GFCI receptacles share circuits.
Click to expand...
interesting, I've never personally encountered this.
 
Back
Top