No power to circuit in garage
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No power to circuit in garage
I have a home built in 62. I recently just lost power to a light and several outlets on one side of the garage. I found where I believe the power comes into the circuit from the breaker at one of the outlets and it has no power. I traced this wire in the attic from that outlet over to where it goes down to the main panel.
I'm thinking either I have a bad breaker or there is a break in the wire from the breaker to the outlet. Can a rat bite through a wire?
Most of the breakers aren't marked as to what they control. Is there some trick of the trade to help figure out which breaker controls this circuit? Does this even make sense?
I'm thinking either I have a bad breaker or there is a break in the wire from the breaker to the outlet. Can a rat bite through a wire?
Most of the breakers aren't marked as to what they control. Is there some trick of the trade to help figure out which breaker controls this circuit? Does this even make sense?
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Can a rat bite through a wire?
Most of the breakers aren't marked as to what they control. Is there some trick of the trade to help figure out which breaker controls this circuit?
There ARE devices to help "map" out circuits and they range in cost from about $40 on up. Most require the circuit to be working and the less expensive models are prone to mistakes.
Do you have any testing equipment and are you comfortable working around energized wiring?
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Being careful, remove the cover on your circuit breaker panel and check each circuit breaker output connection to the neutral bar. This will tell you if you have a bad circuit breaker.
Set your meter to AC volts and if you need to set a range make it in excess of 150 volts. Hold one meter lead on the neutral bar (the bar with all the white wires connected) and touch the other meter lead to each circuit breaker screw in turn. Each should read about 120 volts. If you find one that reads 0 volts then turn that breaker OFF then ON and check again.
Set your meter to AC volts and if you need to set a range make it in excess of 150 volts. Hold one meter lead on the neutral bar (the bar with all the white wires connected) and touch the other meter lead to each circuit breaker screw in turn. Each should read about 120 volts. If you find one that reads 0 volts then turn that breaker OFF then ON and check again.
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OK, Thx. I'm going to go home and do that right now. After reading some of these threads I think I have some serious issues with the wiring in this old house. My 1st step will be to mark all breakers with what they control.
#8
Just a tip. The only breakers that should be to the garage will be marked 15 or 20.
There is an outside chance you have an outside receptacle with a GFCI that feeds the garage. "62" makes that less likely. There could even be a GFCI in a bathroom or kitchen. It may be in the garage behind the cabinet you haven't moved in 15 years.
Note if your multimeter is digital there is an increased chance of incorrect reading.
There is an outside chance you have an outside receptacle with a GFCI that feeds the garage. "62" makes that less likely. There could even be a GFCI in a bathroom or kitchen. It may be in the garage behind the cabinet you haven't moved in 15 years.
Note if your multimeter is digital there is an increased chance of incorrect reading.
#10
Oh boy .,, 16 years ?? you should done that first thing when you move in the home mark all the ciruits and also make a note where is all the GFCI's loacted.
myself i am a electrician by trade and i really appreacted if you mapped all the circuits in the breaker box it will not only save yourself alot of headache try to find right breaker and also if any electrician come in the house and do the repairs it will really save the time instead of try to find it.
now get back to the topic speaking of garage if you have MWBC [ multiwire branch circuit ] one of the wire is broke by nick or critter eating on wires which it kinda common site to see it happend.
if you have #14 wires you only can use 15 amp breaker[s] for this one
if you have #12 wires then you can use 20 amp breaker but however before you jump the gun on this one make sure all the wires on that circuit is full #12 gauge before you upsize it otherwise if you find any spot have #14 then no you have to stay with 15 amp breaker just like a weak link in the chain.
and both attached and detached garages must have GFCI anyway.
Merci,Marc
myself i am a electrician by trade and i really appreacted if you mapped all the circuits in the breaker box it will not only save yourself alot of headache try to find right breaker and also if any electrician come in the house and do the repairs it will really save the time instead of try to find it.
now get back to the topic speaking of garage if you have MWBC [ multiwire branch circuit ] one of the wire is broke by nick or critter eating on wires which it kinda common site to see it happend.
if you have #14 wires you only can use 15 amp breaker[s] for this one
if you have #12 wires then you can use 20 amp breaker but however before you jump the gun on this one make sure all the wires on that circuit is full #12 gauge before you upsize it otherwise if you find any spot have #14 then no you have to stay with 15 amp breaker just like a weak link in the chain.
and both attached and detached garages must have GFCI anyway.
Merci,Marc
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Thx for all the advice. I went home to check each breaker. I found one that had two black wires coming out. It didn't have screws. It was the push in type. The top wire was hot but the lower one dead. The on/off switch for this one looked like it was on but when I felt the switch it was loose. So I flipped it off and back on and that was the problem.
Next time I'll turn them all off then on, whether they look like they are on or not. I wasted alot of time just for that.
I do have a couple of questions what is a multi wire branch circuit? Are you saying that all outlets in a garage are supposed to be GFCI or the whole circuit has to be a GFCI circuit? Why do you need to mark a circuit as GFCI?
Thx for the help.
Next time I'll turn them all off then on, whether they look like they are on or not. I wasted alot of time just for that.
I do have a couple of questions what is a multi wire branch circuit? Are you saying that all outlets in a garage are supposed to be GFCI or the whole circuit has to be a GFCI circuit? Why do you need to mark a circuit as GFCI?
Thx for the help.
#12
TerryB.,,
sure i can expain little more tibbit here .,,
the reason why i mark the branch circuits which it have GFCI so that way you know you have a GFCI repectale downstream in case you wondering why you did not have power on the affected circuit [ that will really save some embarssement moment i did see that happend all the time ]
speaking of multiwire branch circuit it is allowed per code but however the multibranch circiruit will have 2 hot conductors and white and ground of course. [ red, black, white , bare or green ]
so you have one circuit for the genral receptale circuit and second ond for lighting circuit which it pretty common way.
but however becarefull with this one because from time to time you will see XX-3 wire go to garage not always be a MWBC some used on 3 way switch circuit as well so watch out on that one as well.
as we are on simuiar topic if you are on 2005 or eailer codes the only circuit you need to be GFCI'ed is repectale circuit the lighting circuit and garage door opener [ old code days] dont need them but however go to the 2008 code they took care of the loophole here.
everything have to be GFCI'ed including the lights , GDO [ garage door opener ] for safety reason. [ there were few event reported about this situation allready ]
hope that will help you with this
Merci,Marc
sure i can expain little more tibbit here .,,
the reason why i mark the branch circuits which it have GFCI so that way you know you have a GFCI repectale downstream in case you wondering why you did not have power on the affected circuit [ that will really save some embarssement moment i did see that happend all the time ]
speaking of multiwire branch circuit it is allowed per code but however the multibranch circiruit will have 2 hot conductors and white and ground of course. [ red, black, white , bare or green ]
so you have one circuit for the genral receptale circuit and second ond for lighting circuit which it pretty common way.
but however becarefull with this one because from time to time you will see XX-3 wire go to garage not always be a MWBC some used on 3 way switch circuit as well so watch out on that one as well.
as we are on simuiar topic if you are on 2005 or eailer codes the only circuit you need to be GFCI'ed is repectale circuit the lighting circuit and garage door opener [ old code days] dont need them but however go to the 2008 code they took care of the loophole here.
everything have to be GFCI'ed including the lights , GDO [ garage door opener ] for safety reason. [ there were few event reported about this situation allready ]
hope that will help you with this
Merci,Marc