My Outdoor outlet for My Christmas Lights has gone out, theres no Power, LIGHTS WORK On different outlet,?

Question

HELP PLEASE!:) MY outdoor outlet that i have my lights plugged into has gone out checked lights work fine, Checked breakers fine, I looked for reset button didn't find one house is 13 y/o just moved in. Do I need to replace something? Is it something I can do myself? The kids are so sad the lights aren't working I could use any advice thanks. I know very little about electric besides from the basics. Merry Christmas to all,OH I do have power in the house outside light works just the outlet with 2 outdoor cords going to outdoor Christmas lights!

Melissa

Thanks for all the replys I however do not know what a GFCI is? Is that the red/black reset button on my outlets like in my bathroom? Yes the lights where working for about a month we had a big rain today tried another light in the outlet that didn't work
plugged the lights else where they worked fine there may more of those red/black outlets in my kitchen and laundry room.

Ok below the fuse box it looks like maybe where this outdoor outlet was put in at the drywall is cut out and lines up to about where the outdoor outlet would be it's a smaller box with two screws,the silver box says CARLONE" I'm wondering if the previous owners put it in after the house was built would the reset button be in there? I'm not going to shut off main pOwer before I even touch that, but sense we just moved in theres no one to really ask where the rest button is. The lights have been on for 3 1/2 weeks but where on all day today from last night we always shut them off before bed but had forgot and it rained all day. thanks again for ALL your help!!

I meant I'm going to Shut all power off:)

Answer 1

IF, it outside the plug may be corroded and need cleaned or replaced.
Make sure the cords work? You did use them when the lights worked?
This is a House & NOT a Mobile Home?????

Answer 2

An outdoor outlet of a 13yo house should be on a Ground Fault (aka GFCI) circuit. So even if you checked the fuse box to see if the circuit wasn't tripped, and it wasn't, the ground fault could be tripped. Check for another outlet near your fuse box, one with a GFCI cover plate with a reset button. Typically this is the outside circuit and you can reset the ground fault from there. It's common for that circuit to have another GFCI outlet inside, next to the fuse box, with the GF reset there.

Followup: Yes, a GFCI outlet's reset and test buttons are often red and black, but also are often the same color as the outlet (biege or white). The GFCI outlets in the kitchen and laundry will be on different circuits. Look for ANOTHER GFCI outlet near your fuse/circuit box, often mounted beside it or below it. If it has a reset button, and it is out, push it in, then retest the outdoor lights.

Answer 3

You could run a cord out a window but you'll want to figure out a way to seal the gap so you don't get a lot of cold air(and mice) coming in. If you own the home, getting one or two outdoor outlets installed probably won't cost a lot and it's very good investment. Christmas lights aren't the only thing you'll want outdoor power for. With luck, it will be an hour or two of labour for an electrician and the cost of the materials, that would be about $200 total where I live. It will save you a lot of steps and inconvenience.

Answer 4

If you have checked the circuit breaker box and there is no fuse tripped there, it sounds like you blew something in the outlet itself. If it is an outdoor outlet, there may be a reset inside. Otherwise, you may have to replace it. Do you have a voltmeter? You could test if there is current passing through that outlet.

Silly question, but did you check to see if anything else (besides the lights) works in that outlet?

Answer 5

GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter). Yes, these are like what you find in your bathroom. You might have a GFCI outlet in your garage that resets the exterior outlets. It's the best advice I have.