Electrical Troubleshooting for Outlet Wiring
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How to Troubleshoot and Repair Wall Outlets: Checking Electrical Wiring Connections, Inspect Wiring to Additional Outlets, Burnt Outlet Wiring Connections. |
Problems with Wall Outlets and How to Fix Them
Electrical Question: I have two wall outlets that are not working.
- These are standard household wall outlets at the end of a daisy chain wired configuration that are not working.
- All three lights on an outlet tester are off, indicating “open hot” according to the tester.
- I replaced the first non-working outlet, but that didn’t fix the problem.
- Then I replaced the last working outlet before the first non-working one too, and that didn’t help either.
- What else can I do to troubleshoot the problem with these outlets?
- To give you a better idea of the setup because I don’t have a diagram:
- Let the outlets be “A” (working and testing as wired correctly), “B” and “C” (both testing as open hot).
- I have outlet “A” on one wall, and outlets “B” and “C”, in that order, on an adjoining wall at 90 degrees.
- Both “A” and “B” have a hot/neutral pair going “in”, and a pair going “out” from “A” towards “B” and “B” towards “C”.
- “C” only has one hot/neutral pair going in.
- Neither “A” nor “B” has pig tailed wires, other than the ground.
Thank you, Dave!
This electrical wiring question came from: Stephen, a Homeowner from Sunnyvale, California.
Comments: Great electrical information for homeowners.
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electric wiring question Stephen.
How to Troubleshoot and Repair Wall Outlets
Application: Repair Electric Wall Outlets.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced – Best performed by a licensed electrician.
Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools a Voltage Tester or Plug-In Circuit Analyzer.
Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with tools, the extent of the electrical repairs the number of outlets that are affected.
Precaution: Identify the outlet circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring.
Method of Electrical Wiring for Outlets
- Checking Electrical Wiring Connections
Double check all of your connections. One of the best methods for wiring outlets is by making pigtails for each color set, and then connect the pigtail wire to the outlet. - Inspect Wiring to Additional Outlets
This will avoid feeding the circuit wiring through each receptacle outlet. - Burnt Outlet Wiring Connections
Twist each set of stripped wires, trim them off evenly and apply the appropriately sized wire connector for the number of wires that are being spliced and the wire gauge.
More about Electric Wiring for Outlets
Wiring an Electrical Outlet
Wiring Electrical Outlet for the Home
Home electrical wiring includes 110 volt outlets and 220 volt outlets and receptacles which are common place in every home. See how wiring electrical outlets for the home are done.
Electrical Troubleshooting and Repairs
Troubleshooting Electrical Outlet Wiring Problems
Licensed Electrician Reveals the Secrets of Successful Electrical Troubleshooting Methods used to solve the majority of the home electrical problems and wiring failures encountered.
How to Use an Electrical Tester
Electrical Safety and Voltage Testers
When working on home electrical wiring, quality voltage testers can play an important part in electrical safety. Electrical testers enable you to identify electrical circuits and help prevent the possibility of accidental electrical shock.
More about Installing Outlet Wiring
How to Install Electrical Outlets
Wiring Electrical Outlets
Fully Explained Photos and Wiring Diagrams for Wiring Electrical Outlets with Code Requirements for most new or remodel projects.
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Learn more about Home Electrical Wiring
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Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!
Consult your Local Building Department about Permits and Inspections for all Electric Wiring Projects.
The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wires!The Non-Contact Electrical TesterThis is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use.
The Quickest Way to Check for Faulty Electrical Wiring!The Plug-In Outlet TesterThis is the first tool I grab to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring. This popular tester is also used by most inspectors to test for power and check the polarity of circuit wiring. It detects probable improper wiring conditions in standard 110-125 VAC outlets Provides 6 probable wiring conditions that are quick and easy to read for ultimate efficiency Lights indicate if wiring is correct and indicator light chart is included Tests standard 3-wire outlets UL Listed Light indicates if wiring is incorrect Very handy and easy to use.
Strip Off Wire Insulation without Nicking and Damaging the Electric Wire!The Wire Stripper and Wire CutterMy absolute favorite wire stripping tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and this is the tool I use to safely strip electrical wires. This handy tool has multiple uses: The wire gauges are shown on the side of the tool so you know which slot to use for stripping insulation. The end of the tool can be used to grip and bend wire which is handy for attaching wire onto the screw terminals of switches and outlets.. The wire stripper will work on both solid and stranded wire. This tool is Very Handy and Easy to Use. |
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| Wiring a Switch that Controls an Outlet | Moving a Receptacle Outlet |
When I plug in my juicer it trips the GFI, and the phone charger gets hot when it is plugged into same GFI outlet.
Gary,
The voltage of the GFI outlet should be checked, or check the condition of the wiring and the outlet by using a plug in circuit analyzer. If the circuit or outlet is found to have incorrect voltage or wiring then corrections will need to be made according to the discovery.
Dave