We need some help in home electrical troubleshooting.?

Question

The garage was wired 3 years after the house. It worked great for a while and now, nothing. No outlet, switches or anything have power. Where do we begin the troubleshooting, and what so we need to use?

Answer 1

First start at the subpanel for the garage if there is one (there should be if it wasn't a bootleg wiring job).

Check there or at the main panel for thrown circuit breakers or blown fuses.

Reset or replace, and if the circuit shuts off again you probably have a short some place.

Check the draw of all you have on the circuit against the rating of the circuit protection. Has stuff been added over the years like a freezer, electric door opener, etc. etc.?

If the circuit protection is OK, you probably have an open circuit. To check you will need to trace out the wiring. First shut off the circuit then make a visual inspection of all the wiring and connections you can get at.

If that does not show a problem, turn the circuit back on and start checking as close to the panel or subpanel as you can with a VOM. You can get them pretty cheap. If you do not have experience working with electricity, get help. Getting killed can ruin you whole week.

Answer 2

If you check all the circuit breakers and sub-panels, and still can't find a tripped breaker, you may have a GFCI (ground fault circuit interruptor) outlet that tripped.

In an area that is subject to water (outdoor sockets, in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry areas, etc.), building codes require that the electrician install at least one GFCI outlet to supply the electricity to that kind of area. If the GFCI breaker trips, all of the electrical outlets - and overhead lights, if they're connected to that circuit - will go dead until the GFCI outlet is reset.

A GFCI outlet has two little buttons on it, usually between the two outlets: one is a Test button and the other is a Reset button. Locate all of the outlets in the garage and look for a GFCI breaker. If you find it, press the Test button and then the Reset button (you should feel a distinctive click, like when you reset a circuit breaker). Then check your outlets for power again.

Answer 3

First thing is check breakers. If nothing is on at all I fear it was wired from an existing circuit all on one. Do you have a sub panel? Also check to make sure one of the breakers isnt GFCI with the buttons in the middle. If this is tripped and supplies power to everything else easy fix. If not I would hire someone to come take a look.

Answer 4

Well, start off with your fuse box. Are any tripped or blown? If so, switch on or replace fuse. If not, you'll need to start tracing wiring from your garage to your panel. You could have a hosed wire somewhere along the route back or a splice could have come loose some how. Initially you'll only need your eyes. Nothing special... Well, just make sure what you're testing your garage circuits with works (hairdryers, lightbulbs or etc...).

Answer 5

I take it you have checked any GFCI devises to reset any that have tripped?

Start where the wiring for the garage starts. In the main panel in the house. Look for a tripped breaker or blown fuse leading to the garage. Check for voltage going out with a voltmeter. Go into the garage and open the first devise or box the power comes into from the house. Use the voltmeter to check for voltage.

Answer 6

You start at the breaker panel you need a multimeter to find out if you have a bad breaker , loose or burnt wire. If you have not done it before call an electrician. Its not worth getting electrocuted over. Safety first.

Answer 7

There may be a miriad of problems here!! if you don't kow wiring methodologies, and proper troubleshooting of maincircuitry, get a licensed electrician.

Answer 8

Check in the circuit breaker box and see if you have any of them flipped. (Or fuses blown if you have the old type)

Answer 9

I agree it is probly a GFCI