Circuit stop working after thunderstorm
#1
05-16-20, 05:54 PM
Circuit stop working after thunderstorm
Hi,
After some bad weather last night where we lost power, once the power came back on, one of the circuits no longer works. It's a 15 amp AFCI circuit, with a bunch of receptacles and some switches. I tested the breaker, showed 120V. I tried another circuit breaker, still no power to the circuit.
I pulled one of the outlets to test, showing no continuity and no voltage. Everything worked fine prior to losing power, for the last 8 years, so I'm guessing the storm damaged something (fried a wire or something?). Just not sure about next steps, any advice much appreciated.
Thanks,
Dan
After some bad weather last night where we lost power, once the power came back on, one of the circuits no longer works. It's a 15 amp AFCI circuit, with a bunch of receptacles and some switches. I tested the breaker, showed 120V. I tried another circuit breaker, still no power to the circuit.
I pulled one of the outlets to test, showing no continuity and no voltage. Everything worked fine prior to losing power, for the last 8 years, so I'm guessing the storm damaged something (fried a wire or something?). Just not sure about next steps, any advice much appreciated.
Thanks,
Dan
#4
05-16-20, 06:10 PM
Group Moderator
#6
05-16-20, 06:35 PM
Group Moderator
Ok....so it's not specifically a loss of neutral.
That leaves you to open every dead box to check for a problem.
This is a perfect application for a non-contact tester. You can test without even opening the box.
What I do is picture how the circuit is laid out.
Then I go to the closest point/box to the panel and start checking there.
That leaves you to open every dead box to check for a problem.
This is a perfect application for a non-contact tester. You can test without even opening the box.
What I do is picture how the circuit is laid out.
Then I go to the closest point/box to the panel and start checking there.
aerodan1 voted this post useful.
#7
05-16-20, 06:47 PM
Thanks again, PJ. Unfortunately I think they are all tamper resistant outlets, so the noncontact tester doesn't insert. Maybe i can just take the covers off and test the terminals.
Last edited by aerodan1; 05-16-20 at 07:05 PM.
#8
05-16-20, 07:15 PM
Group Moderator
My tester picks up without it being in the slots.
Also depends on metal and non metallic plates.
You can remove the plate and stick the nose of the tester into the box.
Also depends on metal and non metallic plates.
You can remove the plate and stick the nose of the tester into the box.
#9
05-16-20, 10:59 PM
I tested all of the outlets and switches, no voltage on any of them. Wondering what the next step is.
I guess maybe I should do a closer inspection of each outlet and switch to make sure no broken or loose wires. Maybe try replacing the first outlet or switch on the circuit.
I guess maybe I should do a closer inspection of each outlet and switch to make sure no broken or loose wires. Maybe try replacing the first outlet or switch on the circuit.
#10
05-16-20, 11:53 PM
Group Moderator
#11
05-17-20, 12:11 PM
Hi PJ, Yes, I checked the voltage for the breaker using a multimeter. I also tried replacing a few of the switches and outlets on that circuit last night to see if that would help, but it didn't.
#13
05-17-20, 09:55 PM
Joed, This circuit is for two bedrooms, mostly receptacles and a couple of switches, as well as the lights in two bathrooms. No gfci Outlets
Update: The problem has been solved. I took another look at the wiring diagram I had drawn, and remembered that I had added an outlet in the attic on the circuit. That outlet was a GFCI and of course had tripped.
Thank you all so much!
Update: The problem has been solved. I took another look at the wiring diagram I had drawn, and remembered that I had added an outlet in the attic on the circuit. That outlet was a GFCI and of course had tripped.
Thank you all so much!
Last edited by aerodan1; 05-17-20 at 10:23 PM.
#14
05-17-20, 11:18 PM
#16
05-18-20, 05:31 PM
