Outlets in Garage are dead

I have two outlets that are dead, they are on the same wall within 6 feet of another. I have checked the house for GFCI receptacles have one but reset it and it didnt feel right, so I wired a standard outlet in place for testing only. Turned the power back on same thing, took the meter and ground to black is 120v.-ground to neutral is 120v. also, checked the outlets on the circuit best I could and they seem ok, I did notice this, one of the two dead outlets have 3 neutrals backstabbed and 3 black backstabbed, seemed strange, any thoughts

 

Welcome to the forums! Yep, the 3 cables indicate the power either comes from another source or goes to another receptacle, probably the former. You'll have to trace the three cables to see where they go to/come from. Post back with your findings.

 

The outlets in your garage should be GFCI protected, so you're on the right track in looking for those.

There should be a lot more than that. Places to look:

First of all, on every wall of the garage. And on the garage ceiling, where your garage door opener or lights may plug in. That's where the GFCI receptacle protecting the garage outlets is most commonly installed - in the garage. BTW, you didn't say, but it sounds like these are both standard duplex receptacles. Is that right?

Other places to look include the bathrooms, the outside receptacles, in the attic and in the crawl space, unfinished basement or utility room. There should be at least two GFCIs in your kitchen, but those should not have anything in the garage tied to them.

Also, check your panel. The circuit breaker may have tripped.

 

Thanks Guys, I just now found my trouble, It is the receptacle that has the 3 neutral and 3 hots, I had plugged in a radio into the first dead recptacle, so I could hear it come on, and after moving the outlet around carefully, the radio came on, Now what is the proper outlet for this connection, This outlet has no screws but places for four back stabs on each side of it, I want to replace all the outlets as they are nearing 20 years in age. Is this called something special or will the big box stores know what I need, Thanks again...............Dan

 

Back stabs are one of those things that are permitted but people with experience will tell you are more pron to failure. Any receptacles with screws or clamps will be fine though I'd avoid the ones in the 50¢ bin at BigBox.

Since you have three cables I'd suggest you connect all the blacks to a pigtail, all the whites to a pigtail, and all the grounds to a pigtail and connect the pigtails to the receptacle unless this is the first receptacle in the garage and there is no GFCI protection ahead of it. If no GFCI protection ahead of it use a GFCI receptacle. The hot cable to the line side. There should be slots for both the other cables on the load side.

 

Thanks Ray, Great job, .........Dan

 

My house had those cheap receptacles that had ONLY backstab connections, might still be a few in the front room. Anyway, those style receptacles retail for about 39 cents each and in bulk they are maybe 25 cents each. Splurge and buy the $1.50 or $3 receptacles. The $3 ones will be marked "specification grade" and they use a clamp under the screw terminal that is almost as easy to use as the backstab. You simply strip the insulation from the wire in accordance with the "strip gauge" molded into the back of the receptacle and then shove the straight wire into the hole and then tighten the side screw. Far easier than wrapping the wire around the screw and a better and more secure connection than either the backstab or wrapping around the screw.