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Electrical Troubleshooting Lost Outlet Power


Common Causes for Lost Power to Outlets and Switches on a GFCI Circuit: Troubleshooting No Power to a Living Room and GFCI, Free Electrical Help, Learn Electric Wiring.

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Troubleshooting Lost Power to a Living Room
Electrical Question: My living room is the only room in the house without electricity.

Any ideas?

Background: Bob, who is a Handyman in New York.

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Bob.

How to Troubleshoot Lost Power to Outlets and Switches

Application: Troubleshooting Lost Electric Power to a Living Room and GFCI Outlet.
Skill Level: Advanced – a Licensed Electrical Contractor should be consulted right away.
Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools, Ammeter and Voltage Tester.
Estimated Time: Depends on age of the home, the condition of the electrical system and available access to electrical components.
Precaution: Electrical troubleshooting of this level is best performed by a licensed electrical contractor who will identify the problem and make the necessary repairs.

Common Causes for Lost Power to Outlets and Switches on a GFCI Circuit

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Frequently Asked Questions about Lost Power


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FAQs Frequently Asked Questions and Comments

9 Responses to “Electrical Troubleshooting Lost Outlet Power”
  1. Dave Rongey says:

    Hi Jessica,
    The outlet circuit wire splices and connections will need to be inspected to locate the cause of the open neutral, and then the appropriate repairs will be required. In some instances a burnt outlet is found which will need to be replaced and repairs to the wiring as needed.
    I hope this helps,
    Dave

  2. Jessica says:

    Three of our outlets in our living room quit working. We replaced them and some work but some still have no power. We have a light switch that we could not figure out what it controlled so we replaced it, but still no power. We checked the beaker box and all was good there. We have tested the GFCI outlets and they were good. We used a receptacle tester for the outlets that don’t work with that light switch on it reads an open neutral, and with switch off it reads open ground. Our house was built in 1950’s and there is no ground wire on any of the outlets.

  3. Dave Rongey says:

    Hi Dave,
    Troubleshooting Lost Power to a Dryer Circuit
    Turn the dryer circuit breaker all the way off, and then back on. The circuit should be producing 240 volts when testing both circuit wires with a voltage tester.
    If the circuit is not showing 240 volts then it is possible that the circuit breaker is faulty, or there is a problem at the electrical service panel. In that case the service should be tested and inspected by a qualified electrician.
    I hope this helps,
    Dave

  4. dave grimm says:

    My dryer quit working. I checked the dryer two times. Everything checked out. I checked the breaker and it shows two 110 volt readings, 30amp for the dryer, both circuits are hot.

    I checked the dryer outlet and there is 110 on one side, and no voltage on the other. I thought the problem must be with the outlet so I replaced the outlet and had the same problem.

    One side of the 220 is not powered.

    Somewhere between the breaker and the dryer it loses power. The trick is that the dryer is only thing on that circuit.

  5. Dave Rongey says:

    Hi Lawrence,
    How to Test a Bathroom Circuit
    Make sure the circuit for the bathrooms is being tested with a voltage tester, especially with readings from the power leg to the neutral, and the power leg to the ground. It sounds to me like you have lost the neutral of this circuit either at one of the devices, such as a controlling GFCI receptacle, or at the circuit breaker panel. If there is GFCI protection provided by a GFCI in one of the bathrooms then troubleshooting should begin there. A qualified electrician should check the incoming circuit power to the bathroom, and the circuit connections at the panel with special attention to the neutral of the circuit.
    I hope this helps,
    Dave

  6. Lawrence says:

    I have a puzzling problem. The lights and outlets in both bathrooms are on the same circuit. There is power coming to all outlets (verified with a circuit tester and voltmeter) and light fixtures. Nothing plugged into the outlets works (they work in other rooms but not in either bathroom. Replaced outlets and fixtures (still not working but receiving power). Replaced light switches (power shows at fixture but no light). Bulbs are good. Circuit breaker tripped when I shorted the wires. Is there a solution for this or is a complete house rewire needed?

  7. arch says:

    Thank I change both gfi and it didn’t work so final tested all plug found a bad plug that is between both gfi change out the plug everything was working fine until this morning wife put on the blow dryer and back to same problem… you thing overload on the plug would burn out????

  8. Dave Rongey says:

    Arch, no that is not normal. If the GFI is not getting power then there is a problem upstream.

  9. arch says:

    Gfi trip and loss power I have a gfi in the garage and 1 in the bathroom.. the gfi in the garage the light is green and I was able to reset… the one in the bathroom I cannot reset I took the gfi off tested the wires no juice to directly to wires….. is that normal and which gfi is bad????