Help with home electric

Post by **boost240** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:59 pm

Hello i have a problem i can't figure out and I thought I would ask here. Power went out in my room and the room next to mine in my house. When it went out it kinda dimmed out. First, i checked the breaker and i flipped everything but nothing. Now the switch in my room controls one of my outlets. The switch has power but none of the outlets are working whether on or off a switch. Any input? Thank you

Post by **Papi Chulo** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:07 pm

GFCI maybe? Check

Post by **PapaSmurf2k3** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:09 pm

you flipped the breaker "OFF" before you flipped it back on right? That sort of resets the circuit.

Post by **boost240** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:12 pm

What is GFIC? and yes

Post by **boost240** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:15 pm

by gfic do you mean a outlet that throws off hen it shorts? it is just a regular outlet all of them are except in bathroom but that is working fine.

Post by **PoorManQ45** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 5:16 am

Do like PapaSmurf2k3 suggested. Switch the breakers to the full off position, then on. This will ensure that they aren't stuck between modes.

I find it odd that the switched outlet still works. That should be fed on the same circuit, but you never know how idiots do things these days...

Is this a house or an apartment?

Post by **Dattebayo** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 6:27 am

Does the dryer in your house/apt. work ok? Check your 220 volt appliances to makes sure they all work.

I am asking this to check and see if you maybe lost a phase, first...

Post by **boost240** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:16 am

Wow i didn't think we had an around the house forum sorry.

The outlets have electricity as well but only from the terminals to the ground. Should they be carrying 120 between the two wires. For example on an outlet there are 3 holes two on top(call them 1 and 2) and one on the bottom(call this 3). When checking with the multimeter i have ~120volts from either 1 to 3 or 2 to 3 but not from 1 to 2. I would think i need 120 volts from 1 to 2 for anything to work. could this be the actual switch on the breaker?

Post by **telcoman** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:18 pm

boost240 wrote:Wow i didn't think we had an around the house forum sorry.

The outlets have electricity as well but only from the terminals to the ground. Should they be carrying 120 between the two wires. For example on an outlet there are 3 holes two on top(call them 1 and 2) and one on the bottom(call this 3). When checking with the multimeter i have ~120volts from either 1 to 3 or 2 to 3 but not from 1 to 2. I would think i need 120 volts from 1 to 2 for anything to work. could this be the actual switch on the breaker?

If you remove the wall plate covering the outlet you should see a black and white wire going to 1 & 2
Black is hot and white is neutral
Green is ground and goes to 3
If you have a red wire instead of black then that is hot coming from a switch.

Sounds like you've got a missing neutral?

Electrical problems, shorts, etc can burn a house down.
If you are not sure what is going on get a licensed electrician. Sometimes previous owners do strange things.

Good luck

Telcoman

Post by **C-Kwik** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:31 pm

boost240 wrote:Wow i didn't think we had an around the house forum sorry.

The outlets have electricity as well but only from the terminals to the ground. Should they be carrying 120 between the two wires. For example on an outlet there are 3 holes two on top(call them 1 and 2) and one on the bottom(call this 3). When checking with the multimeter i have ~120volts from either 1 to 3 or 2 to 3 but not from 1 to 2. I would think i need 120 volts from 1 to 2 for anything to work. could this be the actual switch on the breaker?

That doesn't make a whole lot of sense...that's not the results I would have expected. Try turning off the breaker for that circuit (including the light if its not normally under the same breaker) and test for continuity between all three terminals. The only scenario I can think of will cause the hot and neutral terminals to have continuity. But I won't get into any details since it seems very unlikely that it could happen and its a bit complicated. Even with the help of small rodents, which are known to have caused some strange electrical happenings. Either way test it and post the results.

Post by **PoorManQ45** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 12:10 am

Sounds like Neutral has been dropped...

Post by **C-Kwik** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 2:24 am

That wouldn't explain why he would measuring 120V AC for both of the power terminals when tested against the ground. Try testing your outlets in the same way. While the ground can provide a path back to the electric company, there should be a good deal of resistance resulting in a voltage drop. I tested mine and testing either of the power leads against the ground, I get 50-60V AC. If the neutral wire was dropped, he would get no voltage when testing it against the ground.

Post by **PoorManQ45** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 6:01 am

Wait, each leg is measuring 120 to ground! The only way for that to happen is if you had to hot legs to the outlet. That makes no sense at all! This should only happen on a 220/240 circuit...

Take out one of the light bulbs and measure the voltage in the socket. Please report back with that.

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