Electrical outlet problem...

[16hypen3sp]

Where's the resident electrician???

In my garage, I have 4 electrical outlets. 2 on my east wall, 2 on my west. The 2 on the west wall don't work. When I hook a multimetre up to them, I get .66v. The two on my east wall do work. When I test them, I get 125.00v.

Here is a pic of one of the outlets that doesn't work.



And the other one that doesn't work.



The obvious difference between the two is one is missing a white and black wire (top pics), but I'm told this shouldn't matter. I re-energized the breaker and tested the wiring and I can't even get power on the wires.

Does anyone have any advice? See anything out of the normal in the pics? I hope this is a wiring problem that's accessible at the outlet. I don't want to start punching holes in the walls trying to find a wiring fault...

[Alterac]

What else is on the circuit?

Having only 2 plugs on a single breaker is suspect.

If these are 2 plugs of the chain of 4+ plugs, you need to check all of them to see if the wires are attached, not broken, and the plugs themselves don't have the bridges snapped off.

Can you post pictures of the plugs on the east wall that work?

[16hypen3sp]

Originally posted by Alterac
What else is on the circuit?

Having only 2 plugs on a single breaker is suspect.

If these are 2 plugs of the chain of 4+ plugs, you need to check all of them to see if the wires are attached, not broken, and the plugs themselves don't have the bridges snapped off.

Can you post pictures of the plugs on the east wall that work?

The 4 electrical outlets on the walls, the outlet on the ceiling (garage door opener) and the ceiling lights are on the circuit.

The plugs on the east wall that do work look exactly the same as the outlet in the 3rd and 4th pic above. I took them apart as well but they looked the same so didn't bother with a pic.

[Alterac]

You will have to check every device in the path for broken wires, or not connected wires, including the ceiling lights and garage opener plug.

[Mitsu3000gt]

If you get one of these it might help diagnose issues, and they are dirt cheap. I bought one a while ago when I suspected issues.

https://www.amazon.ca/Gardner-Bender...circuit+tester

[16hypen3sp]

Originally posted by Alterac
You will have to check every device in the path for broken wires, or not connected wires, including the ceiling lights and garage opener plug.

Yah. I guess thats the next step.

Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
If you get one of these it might help diagnose issues, and they are dirt cheap. I bought one a while ago when I suspected issues.

https://www.amazon.ca/Gardner-Bender...circuit+tester

Plug testers are handy but I'm not sure if that would help in this case. There's no power at all.

[s_havinga]

Have they ever worked? Are you sure they are on the same circuit?

Do you have a GFI outlet on the outside of the garage? if these are wired "down circuit" from a GFI or AFI outlet and that outlet tripped, these would be dead until you reset it.

Are these outlets for some reason on a switch? Again can't see why but worth checking them with any switch in the garage in each position.

Have you pulled the garage door outlet out? Does it have two sets of wires connected? It would be pretty strange if someone forgot to connect the "outgoing wire" but I suppose it is possible.

If the entire garage is on 1 circuit, there should only be 1 outlet that only has 1 wire set terminated to it- you found that one already. That's the end of the series circuit.

That's all I got.

[chathamf]

I will second the GFI thing. Did it ever work or just stopped working? Likely the GFCI. I can take a look at it if you like. Just got laid off from a project up north so will have some much needed time around home for a bit.

[16hypen3sp]

Originally posted by s_havinga
Have they ever worked? Are you sure they are on the same circuit?

Do you have a GFI outlet on the outside of the garage? if these are wired "down circuit" from a GFI or AFI outlet and that outlet tripped, these would be dead until you reset it.

Are these outlets for some reason on a switch? Again can't see why but worth checking them with any switch in the garage in each position.

Have you pulled the garage door outlet out? Does it have two sets of wires connected? It would be pretty strange if someone forgot to connect the "outgoing wire" but I suppose it is possible.

If the entire garage is on 1 circuit, there should only be 1 outlet that only has 1 wire set terminated to it- you found that one already. That's the end of the series circuit.

That's all I got.

Originally posted by chathamf
I will second the GFI thing. Did it ever work or just stopped working? Likely the GFCI. I can take a look at it if you like. Just got laid off from a project up north so will have some much needed time around home for a bit.

These two outlets have NEVER worked. It is only now that I'm starting to do something about it. There is a GFI plug on the outside of this wall, but it's not on the same circuit. That circuit is labelled "Front Outside Plugs" in the breaker panel.

I'm going to check the garage opener outlet and see what I find.

[71/454]

I would check the GFCI to be sure.
Aside from that, loose wires in the breaker, loose wire in the light switch even though it doesn't control the plugs the source of power could originate there. Also pull the lights down and look for loose wires pulled out of marrettes.
My experience is that there is usually a loose connection and not a broken wire, unless someone has screwed something into the wall and caught the wire, but this usually just blows the breaker.
Happy hunting

[90_Shelby]

Originally posted by 71/454
I would check the GFCI to be sure.
Also pull the lights down and look for loose wires pulled out of marrettes.
My experience is that there is usually a loose connection and not a broken wire, unless someone has screwed something into the wall and caught the wire, but this usually just blows the breaker.
Happy hunting

I had a loose wire in a marrette that caused a similar issue. Ensure all wires are twisted together before marrette goes on.

[rx7_turbo2]

When you measured the voltage did you measure hot-neutral and also hot-ground? This may help narrow things down.

You're basically at the point where you need to pull off every outlet on the circuit and have a peak. There's a number of possibilities but the most likely is you'll find a broken wire, or a wire pulled out of a maurette somewhere.

[16hypen3sp]

Thanks for the help everyone! But I got it!!!!!

I removed the outlet in the ceiling for the garage door opener. This is what I found:

The wires that are just hanging there is the wiring that proceeds to the the problem outlets in the wall.



It was a pain in the ass because the door opener was right below the outlet but I got it all hooked up:



I closed the breaker and tested the problem outlets and bam! 125v.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. This matter has been resolved.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Haha, looks like whoever did the install missed a couple wires there. Good work figuring it out!

[OU812]

More quality construction work in good ol yyc.

[16hypen3sp]

Originally posted by BerserkerCatSplat
Haha, looks like whoever did the install missed a couple wires there. Good work figuring it out!

I'm just happy that the wires were there and the problem was an easy fix. Would have been shitty if I opened it up and found no wiring hanging there.

Originally posted by OU812
More quality construction work in good ol yyc.

Well, this is the only issue I have had with my house. Maybe the electrician (maybe apprentice?) got lazy or just missed it. Glad it was an easy fix.

[jwslam]

Originally posted by 16hypen3sp
Well, this is the only issue I have had with my house. Maybe the electrician (maybe apprentice?) got lazy or just missed it. Glad it was an easy fix.

You moved to Calgary?

[16hypen3sp]

Originally posted by jwslam

You moved to Calgary?

nah. Still just north of Red Deer.

[Swank]

The original was definitely a Friday job, good to hear you found the issue and it was an easy fix.

[danno]

Simple fix that shouldn't have been a problem unfortunately. Guy probably stuck his fingers in the box and pulled down the 14/2 that had the ground and didn't notice the other wire tucked in there when he put the receptacle on. The problem is he should have tested every plug in the house when he had completed it, and the inspector should be too. But whatever it's fixed good job finding it.