Why a Shed Has Lost Power and the Repair Process
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How to Repair Lost Electrical Power to an Outdoor Shed: Guide to Repair Lost Power to a Shed |
Guide to Repair Lost Power to a Shed
[ad#block]Electrical Question: I have lost power to my shed. I have underground cable that has been working for the past ten years.
- No plugs in the shed work, the light does not work either. It is not the case of plugs not working.
- I use my voltage tester on the main feed into the shed and I get a power reading inside the shed on the main feed power.
- The lines from the box inside the shed to the light and other plugs show that there is power, yet when I turn on the light nothing happens. I changed the bulb but that did not help.
- There are six plugs that do not work and I don’t know what to look for.
Thanks for your help!
This electrical wiring question came from: Ralph, a Homeowner from Providence, Rhode Island.
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical troubleshooting question Ralph.
How to Repair Lost Electrical Power to an Outdoor Shed
- With this question, I am assuming that there is a direct burial cable that supplies the power circuit to the shed.
- If there is a direct burial cable, then what you are describing sounds like the main underground power cable has lost the neutral.
- This may have happened if the cable was nicked when it was installed, and slowly it began to deteriorate until the connection was finally lost.
- To know for sure, voltage tests should be taken from the hot leg of the power to the neutral wire, not to the ground wire.
- If there is no reading then the neutral wire is the problem.
- The problem area can be detected using a cable detector or meter and then an approved direct burial repair splice may be installed to restore the connection.
More about Electrical Wiring for your Shed:
- How To Repair A Direct Burial Shed Power Cable
- Types of Electrical Testers
- Troubleshooting Electrical Wiring
- 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.
For more information about Lost Power
Lost power
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Causes of Lost Electrical Power
- Licensed Electrician Reveals the Secrets of Successful Electrical Troubleshooting Methods used to solve the majority of the home electrical problems and wiring failures encountered.
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My shed is around 100 ft. from my house and I have the under ground wire running off the garage out door light. Every thing works great until it rains which then my 20 amp breaker in the house breaker box trips every time. It does not trip when it snows or light moisture. How can I check this out.
Thanks Mike
Hi Mike,
You may want to check the connections at the house to the shed wiring and make sure they are made properly, well insulated and protected. You do not mention what method was used to install the cable to the shed, however it is best to install USE or Direct Burial cable at the appropriate depth, or install approved electrical wiring that is installed in conduit at the approved depth. Continuity and amperage load tests can be made to determine if the wiring is damaged. Underground wiring that is damaged will cause voltage leaks that are very dangerous. Until the problem is corrected the circuit should be disconnected or at least provide GFCI protection.
Be Safe!
Dave
Hi my question is what are the requirements to run 100 ft of under ground wire to my shed to be safe, what size wire, how deep and do i need a grounding wire ect. I have several lights, several outlets and i run a heater during winter time also a air conditioner in summer time . I just found the nick in the old wire and want to replace the whole thing this spring, someone else installed the last wire so i,m not sure of anything, i just want it right and safe. Thanks again, Mike.
Hi Mike,
The electrical circuit to be installed to your shed that will have the capacity to support all of the items you have briefly described can only be determined by calculating the Total Connected Load for all of these items, and then deciding what type of wiring method you wish to install which will have a direct impact on the trenching requirements. That is how a circuit for a shed is calculated. And Mike, the cool thing about this website is how I have provided so many resources where you could look this up for yourself, and better yet, my new Electrical eBook has ALL of this information ready for you, complete with the very important electrical codes that apply to your shed wiring project.
Dave