Electrical Question

[Aces11]

I am attempting to connect an outlet. I added some stone to my house, so I had taken the old one off. Breaker is not tripped. I made sure wires are connected correctly. My voltage reader shows 120 volts when I put it in the outlet. Everything appears to work except when I plug something in I get no power. I tried a few different outlets to make sure I didn’t have a bad one as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jolemons]

So you're saying the wires on the outlet back read 120v but when you put your probes into the outlet slots it reads 0v?

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[Aces11]

When I put the probes in the outlet itself and the back it shows 120v.

 

[jolemons]

Is polarity reversed?

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[mxgsfmdpx]

Is it a GFCI outlet? They are particular and will show voltage but are wired slightly differently than standard and won’t function.

Properly identify line and load wires and go from there with connecting properly to the receptacle.

 

[Aces11]

It is not a GFCI outlet.

I tried to reverse wires to see if it made a difference and it didn’t.

The weekend warrior I am, I have managed to shock myself once or twice as well, so definitely know there’s power to the outlet.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Sounds like a lost neutral. somewhere in the circuit the neutral came loose. you will read correct voltage but it won't power up anything. Do a google search for lost neutral.

 

[KsRancher]

Sounds like a lost neutral. somewhere in the circuit the neutral came loose. you will read correct voltage but it won't power up anything. Do a google search for lost neutral.

If that's it then I would assume it's back at the outlet that feeds the outlet that doesn't work.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

It is not a GFCI outlet.

I tried to reverse wires to see if it made a difference and it didn’t.

The weekend warrior I am, I have managed to shock myself once or twice as well, so definitely know there’s power to the outlet.

Okay then next thing I’d diagnose is your neutral wire. You can show voltage at the outlet and have a bad neutral downstream.

Did the receptacle function before?

 

[GSPHUNTER]

If that's it then I would assume it's back at the outlet that feeds the outlet that doesn't work.

Correct. If you know which one is in the same circuit, check It, keep going until you get to one that will power up something like a drop light.

 

[go_deep]

If it's a lost neutral you can do an ohms test across the ground and neutral at the non working outlet, it'll ready Meg ohms, or OL

 

[lil' bear]

Are the wires stabbed into the back of the receptical or are the wires wrapped around the side screws? Most of the time backstabbing the wires creates issues, it could be a loose connection internally. If your reading 120 across power and neutral it can't be a lost neutral. If it's only reading 120 power to ground then yes you lost the neutral.

 

[Jpsmith1]

I'm with those saying lost neutral.

We see corroded connections that will show 120v on a meter but, when asked to DO anything, there isn't enough current.

Meters with a "Low-z feature" can help diagnose this as can the old "Wiggy" solenoid type meters.

 

[PORK]

Sounds like you’re just extending an existing receptacle? Given that it is outside it should be GFCI protected. Is the breaker a GFCI type? It will have a test button on it if it is. I’m guessing this is on the front of the house so check your GFCI receptacles in your garage. Like others say it’s likely a loose neutral. If there’s more than one wire in the box you extended the receptacle from that is where the issue is likely. If everything looks good there and you have a normal breaker check all GFCIs/receptacles close by. For homeowner Randy’s I recommend a plug tester for this. So many meters are honestly junk. I’ve seen Klein, GB etc meters tell you there is 120v when there isn’t. By a 10 dollar plug tester.

 

[Aces11]

Thanks for all the input, it is greatly appreciated! It’s not a GFCI, none of the other ones on the outside of my house are either. Wouldn’t surprise me if it’s was built not up to code in 2012. It is an existing outlet, I am just trying to reconnect it. It’s on the breaker marked outside outlets. I checked all the other outside outlets to make sure I didn’t have a loose neutral and I didnt find any. If I had a loose neutral someplace would it still shock me like it did? It was working prior to me disconnecting it. It’s the outlet with the screws on the side and the wire is not corroded at all.

 

[lil' bear]

Thanks for all the input, it is greatly appreciated! It’s not a GFCI, none of the other ones on the outside of my house are either. Wouldn’t surprise me if it’s was built not up to code in 2012. It is an existing outlet, I am just trying to reconnect it. It’s on the breaker marked outside outlets. I checked all the other outside outlets to make sure I didn’t have a loose neutral and I didnt find any. If I had a loose neutral someplace would it still shock me like it did? It was working prior to me disconnecting it. It’s the outlet with the screws on the side and the wire is not corroded at all.

If your touching hot to ground it will still shock you. Did you try to remove the wires from the receptical before checking voltage, or was the reading taken through the recep?
Also where are the wires landed on the recep?

 

[Aces11]

I have done readings with the wires on and off the outlet and showed voltage both ways.

 

[lil' bear]

Oh, then try a different outlet. The internals are either burnt or broken and your getting a false reading when sticking that thick probe in.

 

[BBob]

it could be a loose connection

This is the way. Loose/bad connection somewhere. BTDT

 

[ElkNut1]

Is the appliance you're plugging in good? Take it & plug it into another receptacle in the home to make sure!