I have one breaker that controls 3 overhead lights, and 3 outlets. All of a sudden, 2 overheads, and 1 outlet don't work. (They would be the ones furthest from the breaker) Nothing has been changed. Checked the wirenuts for anything loose, but they are OK. Do you have any thoughts on this? Thank you so much
2007-08-22 07:06:57 · 4 answers · asked by wellaem 6 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
You have one of two problems, and both are easy to repair. Either you have a broken outlet, or you have corrosion on the wires that needs to be cleaned. (Look up Battery Effect if you want to learn why corrosion builds up.)
Turn off the electricity to the area, the controlling circuit breaker. Then open the one of the two outlets that still work. The one nearest the non working outlet or lights would be my first choice.
Remove the wire nut to the hot wire. (Neutrals are Grey or White, Green or Bare copper is ground, all other colors are "Hot" wires.)
Check for corrosion.
Clean corrosion by carefully scraping up and down the bare wire with a razor knife. (Be careful not to nick the wires just scrape the residual black or white corrosion off of them.)
Tighten the wires together with Pliers spinning in a clockwise direction. (This will limit/prevent corrosion in the future.)
Also check for a burned outlet. You will see burn marks or a broken outlet. Then replace the outlet.
Put back together in the wall.
Turn on the circuit breaker.
Test lights and non working outlet.
If fixed, Yeah! If not go to the other working outlet and restart from the top.
Have Fun!
2007-08-22 07:41:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You have lost feed to these last three devices. It is either a bad connection with the hot or the neutral or for some reason the wire has been cut or eaten through again either the hot or the neutral. I would start, as the other answer said, at the last working device and see if there is a problem with the wire.
If you are not experienced in dealing with voltage, then be sure to kill the breaker before you start taking out devices to look for problems.
good luck
If you have problems, then call a electrician and have him/her fix it.
2007-08-22 14:37:03 · answer #2 · answered by Fordman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The bad connection is probably not in the devices that are not working, but in the device just before it. It does sound like a loose connection. You can test hot to gorund to see if you have lost the hot or the neutral.
2007-08-22 14:10:48 · answer #3 · answered by hutmikttmuk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have a GFCI that may have blown? GFCI can shut everything after it off.
2007-08-22 14:33:57 · answer #4 · answered by Brian M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋