Posted: 12/13/2008 1:11:13 PM EDT
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I'm stumped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have 1 interior garage outlet not working, 1 exterior outlet (entry way) not working, and all but one bathroom with no lights now. The exterior outlet that's INOP now did have some Christmas lights plugged into it a few days ago when it was wet. To me, it sounds like a GFI trip that was caused by the moisture on the outside Christmas lights. Problem is I cannot find a single GFI outlet that's tripped  None of the circuit breakers in the box are tripped either 
I've found a total of 6 GFI outlets in the house. Thought the dude at Home Depot was going to provide me with the secret when he finished my sentence about where my hidden GFI box was (he guessed my problem included bathroom lighting). He then looked at the break out of where all my GFIs were and said it should be on 1 particular GFI in the garage. Problem is that GFI outlet is working and everything tied into it (far as I can tell) is working, including the backyard exterior outlet. He said to check the walk-in master bedroom closet for a GFI but I don't have any outlets in there at all and to check the hallway, which I did but none of them are GFI's and they're all working. I'm about ready to have to break down and call an electrician but I hate to do that when it sounds like a simple GFI trip problem. |
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I just had a similar problem. If you are absolutely sure you have found all the GFIs and none are tripped, you may have a loose wire in the outlets. The guy who wired my house didn't tighten all the screws on the outlets and a neutral connection came loose. It finally gave up when the weather change. It was easy to fix but not to find.
I had to pull every non-working outlet out of the wall and inspect every connection. |
| Some styles of breakers are very difficult to identify as tripped. I would flip all breakers off then on just to be sure. Also, reset all GFIs, never trust the lights, confirm function. Then, check the wiring on that particular outlet. Then get a tester that sends a signal through the wires (breakers off), and find the next outlets/switches/fixtures in line until you find the problem. Best of luck. |
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Quoted:
Then get a tester that sends a signal through the wires (breakers off), and find the next outlets/switches/fixtures in line until you find the problem. Best of luck. I've pulled the 2 outlets that don't work - no loose wires. I've reset each GFI outlet I know of - no dice. Went around the house with a small outlet tester and verified all outlets have juice when they're supposed to. Cycled each circuit breaker, every one I turn off I can find a few things that loose power i.e. can't find any that when I turn them off I find nothing effected. Tore the house apart looking for another (7th) GFI, looked in every closet, cabinet, hallway, in the attic around both access ports, and behind every piece of furniture we have. Looks like I may have to get a tester  or just break down and hire an electrician. Thanks for everyone's suggestions.
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Sounds like one of two things, a bad GFI or a short in the wiring between the GFI and the next outlet in the circuit. Newer houses are "usually" wired with the exterior outlets and the bathroom lights running off the GFI that is in the garage.
Kill the power to the circuit and remove the GFI and wire nut the two black wires together and the two whites together. Turn the power on and see if there are lights and power to the other outlets. If that doesn't work Kill the power again and take a pair of pliers and give each wire in the box a sharp little tug. If a drywall screw nicked one of the wires sometimes it takes a long time for the short to show itself. The tug will change where the wires lay in the sheathing. FYI If a wire comes out, you had a bad short. Then it is just a matter of repulling or putting in a junction box. This problem will require some drywall damage though. 
IM me if you have any other questions and I will give you my phone number. |
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How about comparing notes with a neighbor with the same floorplan (assuming you havea tract house...) to see if you've found all the GFI's? D Yep, I’ve done that, with 2 different neighbors. Unfortunately both of their houses are wired differently from mine. Quoted:
Sounds like one of two things, a bad GFI or a short in the wiring between the GFI and the next outlet in the circuit. Newer houses are "usually" wired with the exterior outlets and the bathroom lights running off the GFI that is in the garage. Kill the power to the circuit and remove the GFI and wire nut the two black wires together and the two whites together. Turn the power on and see if there are lights and power to the other outlets. If that doesn't work Kill the power again and take a pair of pliers and give each wire in the box a sharp little tug. If a drywall screw nicked one of the wires sometimes it takes a long time for the short to show itself. The tug will change where the wires lay in the sheathing. FYI If a wire comes out, you had a bad short. Then it is just a matter of repulling or putting in a junction box. This problem will require some drywall damage though.
I will try these suggestions. I have 2 GFI outlets in my garage, both on separate breakers. One is located near the garage door and controls my outside lighting (lamp post and lights on exterior garage) and 2 outlets in the garage (all working); the other GFI in the garage is located on the wall that splits the garage from the kitchen, it controls the outside backyard outlet (working) and is supporting the garage fridge’s electric. Update: No luck with the above techniques. I really appreciate all you guys' suggestions. |
| Had a similar problem, GFI in garage showed function, reset and it didn't come back on. Jammed it real hard and it worked intermittently. Clicked off a few more times in the days after and reset - it finally gave up the ghost and I replaced it. No more problems now... but was a pain. At first my irrigation was plugged into it and I didn't realize that the outlet was a GFI. I would buy 1 or 2 new GFI's and replace them one at a time until the problem goes away (whoever suggested that earlier - good idea). My house was built in 2000-2001 and I've had many problems with the electrical. Found some beer cans and boxes in walls/attics. I'm glad my property was the party house... damned construction slackers. |
| I had a GFI problem in the garage last month too. It would trip after about 5 minutes, knocking out power to the garage outlets and to all exterior outlets on the house (but not the garage door opener, soft water system in the garage, light in the garage, etc). I'd reset it, and it would trip in 5 minutes. A repair guy came out and replaced the whole GFI outlet with a new one, and that did the trick. House built in late 2004. |