Electrical Question

[PORK]

if the OP wants the easiest way to fix it is shut off the breaker that feeds the receptacle in question. Then find all outlets that are on that circuit (could even be some lights) open all the ones near the one receptacle in question and you’ll find your issue.

PM your billing info and I’ll cut you a deal at 250 bucks.

 

[StuckoYota99]

Measuring voltage L1/ hot to N/nuetral wire is 120vac. L1 to Ground?
N to Ground?
With the breaker off check ohms from L1 to N, N to Ground, Ground to L1.

Do the other outlets outside work?

Check all other GFCI outlets.
Basically sounds like the circuit is broken somewhere.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I meant I tried 4 outlets in this specific spot, to make sure I didn’t have a bad one. All the other spots with outlets work fine. I am thinking it must be a loose neutral on the other end like guys have suggested. I am thinking next step will be for me to figure out exactly where that wire is run from. I will have to get up in the attic and hopefully can trace it.

It’s usually easier to just run new wires from the next closest outlet that is functioning properly. They make special, long, flex bits with holes in the end for tying on wires and pulling back through.

This is of course, after identifying the source circuit/breaker and ensuring amperage isn’t already overloaded (common unfortunately).

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Put the meter on ohms, and test the ground and neutral

This. In your main panel in the house, the neutral is tied to ground (or at least should be). The resistance reading should be near zero. I'm guessing you may have a loose neutral in the circuit.

 

[PORK]

This. In your main panel in the house, the neutral is tied to ground (or at least should be). The resistance reading should be near zero. I'm guessing you may have a loose neutral in the circuit.

the best way to tell if you have a loose neutral is to measure Hot to neutral. If it’s a poor connection you’ll read 0 or something like 86v basically anything under 100v. His grounds and neutrals should be separated in his panel inside his house since it was built in 2012. The grounded conductor and grounding conductor should be bonded at the service.

Do not ohm the circuit while the breaker is on please. Really no need to ohm anything regarding this issue honestly.

 

[PORK]

It’s usually easier to just run new wires from the next closest outlet that is functioning properly. They make special, long, flex bits with holes in the end for tying on wires and pulling back through.

This is of course, after identifying the source circuit/breaker and ensuring amperage isn’t already overloaded (common unfortunately).

No need to fish a new wire in this situation. It’s either a bad GFCI somewhere or a loose connection. Unless he drilled through a wire of course. But if he did likely the breaker would have tripped and of course other outlets wouldn’t be functional.

 

[BBob]

If it’s a poor connection you’ll read 0 or something like 86v basically anything under 100v.

Sorry but not always the case. You can have a bad connection and still see full voltage. BTDT

 

[StuckoYota99]

Sorry but not always the case. You can have a bad connection and still see full voltage. BTDT

Ghost voltage has made me question my sanity and my meter a few times

 

[Tilzbow]

Just because it’s not a GFCI outlet doesn’t means it’s not connected to a GFCI outlet somewhere that’s tripped or needs replacing. If it’s an outside outlet it’s more than likely connected to a GFCI and that one could be close by and inside the house.

 

[PORK]

Sorry but not always the case. You can have a bad connection and still see full voltage. BTDT

Yep been there, but generally it’s a decent size load applied to have that happen. Arc fault breaker would pick up on that in residential if it was indeed on the neutral being loose.

But yeah on motors in 3 phase systems oh man I’ve been there!

 

[Aces11]

Thanks for all the replies! I will mess with it more when get a chance and keep everyone posted.

 

[ThorM465]

Sleep on it for a day. Then come back fresh and redo everything with the outlet.

I'd grab a new GFCI Outlet and one of these cheap testers https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Receptacle-Tester-RT110/206517828

 

[Beendare]

Built in 2012 there should be a GFCI on that outside circuit somewhere. Sometimes they put them in the garage or somewhere else. I'm going to go out on a limb and say either the previous owner removed it and messed up that circuit or it was never wired correctly in the first place.

But then if you got shocked....so it almost has to be a neutral issue.

FWIW, we have about a 5% failure rate on the GFCI outlets from our Wholesaler that we install- total crap quality. We get more callbacks on those than anything else. I can see why folks take them out.

 

[AZ8]

Just because it’s not a GFCI outlet doesn’t means it’s not connected to a GFCI outlet somewhere that’s tripped or needs replacing. If it’s an outside outlet it’s more than likely connected to a GFCI and that one could be close by and inside the house.

Happened to me on a house we bought. Outside outlet wouldn't work and I couldn't find a GFCI outlet anywhere nearby. On a whim, I looked inside the garage cabinets, now full of boxes from our move in and tucked away in the corner in one of the cabinets I found a GFCI outlet that was tripped. I reset it and the outside outlet worked again.

 

[hikenhunt]

Happened to me on a house we bought. Outside outlet wouldn't work and I couldn't find a GFCI outlet anywhere nearby. On a whim, I looked inside the garage cabinets, now full of boxes from our move in and tucked away in the corner in one of the cabinets I found a GFCI outlet that was tripped. I reset it and the outside outlet worked again.

Happened to me as well. Could not figure out what happened to my outside power for a while, then finally found a tripped GFCI behind a shelf.

 

[lil' bear]

Since we are all gathered here, what local are you guys from?

IBEW LU:8

 

[GSPHUNTER]

IBEW LU 441. O.C. LA. I was in LU 250 , pipe fitters / AC Mech. Do you work primarily construction or service work? Being a A/C service mech. the majority of trouble calls are electrical in nature. I worked both construction and service. The first 21 years construction with some service thrown in, last 16 years all service. Most of my electrical experience was on the job training, I also work with IBEW brothers servicing industrial equipment with lots of residential along the way. I got lucky, I was exposed to a wide variety of work.

 

[HuntHarder]

387

 

[KsRancher]

I do not know how those GFCI outlets work. But if it was tripped I would assume he wouldn't be getting 120v to the outlet. And it wouldn't have been able to shock him. It seems like a simple fix as long as he can find the other end of that wire.


I am not an electrician, but I can do things around the house. My house was built in 1978 and added onto in the early 2000's. All of the original house lights are wired so that the light always has power and the switch just breaks the ground. The addition lights are wired so the power goes to the switch and then the light. We added on to the house in 2022 and I wired the lights with the power going to the switch and then the light. During our remodel we decided to put in some new lights in the old part that was by the new addition. My dad was doing the light replacements. He was doing his thing and I didn't pay attention. He shut the swith off and was going to replace a light. Instead of undoing the wire nuts he cut cut right thru all of them to start over. POW! Put a nice burn right on the cutters of of his wire pliers. I told him no more hurrying, just shut the breaker off and check for power before doing anything.

 

[RS3579]

Get a plug tester and it’ll shot a open neutral