Outlets Not Working, Breaker Not Tripped. How to Diagnose and Replace Malfunctioning Receptacles.
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- Опубликовано: 9 май 2024
- Some power outlets in my living room were losing power periodically, but the circuit breaker wasn't tripping. After researching the problem, found I had 15(!) outlets daisy-chained off the same breaker. In this video I show how to test outlets and replace outlets to trouble-shoot the problem.
00:00 Introduction
00:12 Switch Replacement Recap
01:05 Plug for my HDR demo playlist (linked below)
01:58 Problem: dead outlets, breaker not tripped
02:45 Daisy-chained outlet issues
05:28 PS5 Hot Wheels HDR video from playlist
06:43 Testing an outlet with Non-Contact Voltage Tester
09:00 Testing an outlet with GFCI Receptacle Tester
10:10 Testing an outlet with a Multimeter
11:10 Turning off the breaker (IMPORTANT)
11:40 Retesting with power off
11:55 Removing existing outlet
12:20 Push-in (QuickWire) vs. screw plate
14:48 Leviton (decorator) replacement outlet
15:00 Outlet replacement using screw terminals
16:30 "Screwless" plate cover
16:50 Testing with breaker back on
17:20 (Much later) Found it!!
Lutron Caseta Switch Install Video: • Installing and Setting...
83" LG OLED TV Video: • LG 83" C1 OLED Overvie...
If you have an HDR TV, you really need to check out this playlist: HDR Playlist: • HDR
For more information visit my website at www.drwiggo.com/ or use the links below. (Note: DrWiggo is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases.)
Testing tools:
Klein Tools NCVT3P Dual Range Non Contact Voltage Tester, 12-1000V AC Pen w/flashlight (Check price at Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B08DQMX7YF)
Klein Tools RT250 GFCI Receptacle Tester with LCD display for standard 3-wire 120V electrical outlets (Check price at Amazon: www.amazon.com/Receptacle-Ele...)
Klein Tools MM300 Multimeter 600V (Check price at Amazon: www.amazon.com/Multimeter-Man...
KLEIN KIT BUNDLE with MM320 Multimeter (w/ case), NCVT3P Voltage Tester, RT210 GFCI Receptacle Tester (step down from one listed above), and ET45 Voltage Tester (Check price at Amazon: www.amazon.com/Multimeter-Non...)
Outlets/Cover Plates
BESTTEN 10-pack 15 Amp Decorator Receptacle Outlet, Screwless Wallplate Included (Check price at Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B07BNCDMKX)
Leviton 10-pack T5325 Decora Duplex Receptacle (Check price at Amazon: www.amazon.com/Leviton-5325-W...)
MLLIZH 10-pack 1-gang Decora Outlet Cover Plates (Check price at Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B08978QFZT) 
Наука
Excellent video on the topic. I started my DIY electric schooling about 20 years ago. My rear neighbor was a master electrician who showed me the ropes. Here are a few things I learned from him. When fastening wire, it's Black on Brass, White on White. What wire gauge was used on the line? 12 gauge for 20amps and 14 gauge for 15amps. If using 14gauge, the receptacles should be rated for 15amps service. For 20amps, use 20 amp rated. For 15amp service, using 15 amp receptacles, the circuit breaker should be 15amp. The line wire, in this case, can be 12 or 14 gauge. I use a 3/8 inch wooden dowel with a grove on the end, sized to the size of the wire, to help me push the wires into the box. This allows me to align the outlet/switch to get a flush fit, not crooked. Not so much how many outlets, but what is plugged into them simultaneously and how many devices are in use that counts. A floor vac will draw up to about 13amps by itself. I never wire a receptacle using the holes on the backside. I only buy, and they cost a little more, receptacles that allow for either hook around the terminal or have a movable retaining plate that you slide the bare end of the wire and then tighten the screw. I call these receptacles commercial grade.
Sounds like YOU should be making videos on this stuff. Thanks for the knowledge (I may steal some of it if I ever revisit electrical)!!
I love a good mystery, or what might otherwise be called a good headache. I appreciate the communication. Thumbs up.
Major headache. But a feeling of satisfaction when you find the bad outlet.
This was really helpful, possibly because you're not an electrician and I could understand you better. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much because that was great explained
Glad it was helpful! Remember: safety first! Check the breakers!
Good video. Thanks.
Thank you, I've got a circuit back that's been out 3 months. your video was in plain English for the nonelectrician to understand
Glad it helped. It's a horrible problem to track down.
thank you ,very helpful
Glad it was helpful! It's an annoying problem!
Lol, naturally I'm dealing with the same issues. I have no ideal about the daisy chain of my outlets. I'm just going to replace as many as I can. Thanks for the video.
Learn from my mistake: start with the outlets closest to the one (s) with the problem.
@@DrWiggo Yeah, I like the tools too. I have had the best luck replacing the ones that are still working.
Than k u for being a good teacher
Hope it helped!
Thank you very much, you were helpful, good job. I replaced a kitchen on off and now I have no power on L/S living room and colset, bathroom
I'm not an electrician, and what I know was all in the video, so you need to find someone smarter than me to help.
Try resetting your GFI in your bathroom. The outlet with 2 buttons on it? Hit reset then test. You’d be surprised.
@william spence
Good video brother.
Thanks, but I always feel bad for people who need to watch it.
I have my whole house except a few we are living off of on a 3 story house out and I cannot afford an electrician I am watching!
Best of luck! It can be a pain, but if I can do it, anyone can do it.
@DrWiggo What if the situation has 2 outlets that went out, I’ve replaced the outlets, yet still nothing. They are wired correctly and the breaker is not tripped, and there is no gfci involved. What now?
The problem is elsewhere in the chain. I replaced a half-dozen outlets before I found the one (that worked) but was interrupting the daisy chain.
Cool video
Thanks. Just helped a friend with the same problem. Apparently it's more common than I knew.
Thank you,
You are welcome!
These are cheap residential grade receptacles. For about $1.50 more you can buy "spec grade" receptacles which are more robust. They don't have a backstab option, but they have a back wiring option, in which the straight wire is clamped in place by tightening the screws.
Good to know. (Though I doubt many builders would go for an extra $1.50/outlet).
@@DrWiggo right but as a home owner it's nice to know. Most builders also don't add on redundant safety devices like I have in my own home having dual function breakers and a dual function outlet protecting every outlet circuit. Just me adds a lot of price to the electrical instillation of my home but I'm willing to spend the money for the added power and safety of having a 400 amp service with all the new modern tech I can put on it ie GF/AF protection and surge protection.
Show amigo, esse teste da klain Tools é muito bom mesmo recomendo um abraço do Brasil..
Obrigado, abraço aceito.
I think most electricians would use pigtails instead of daisy chaining, so each receptacle is independent from the other.
Today, maybe. But we're talking 30 years ago.
@@DrWiggo Yea, who knows? BTW, my house is 70 years old and they used pigtails, but they were crimped and soldered in place and insulated with a special electrical tape.
@@DrWiggo Electrical apprentice here. Before you opened up your outlet, I figured you probably didn't have a pig tail going on (where the respective wires are all connected to each other then one wire (a pig tail) goes to the outlet itself, removing the plug from being part of the conductor for all the other downstream/daisychained outlets. Sure enough, that's what you had.
But because your "back stabber" connection was loose, and your cleaning lady saw a spark, I suspect that was your problem. If you have future problems, I suggest converting your outlet connections to pigtails, for more dependable and reliable outlets. I'm far from being the best troubleshooter, which is how I came across your video, but it was a good exercise for me. Thank you.
It seems opposite to me. I do service work all the time. The old electricians were the good ones, the new ones backstab and series everything (v.s. parallel). That's just my opinion from doing 10,000 or so service calls for this type of stuff. @@DrWiggo
But Were those two outlets you were testing working or not?
Yes, those two turned were working. Remember, it's usually a working outlet that causes the problem down the chain. In the last chapter (around 17:20), I show the offending outlet, which was farther down the chain (but still working), and the problem was obvious (once the outlet was removed).
Downstairs in my buddys house the outlets don’t work but the breaker is tripping, what causes that?
Breaker tripping usually means a short.
I heard from an electrician that 5 on a chain is the max number of outlets.
For good electricians, yes. But 30 years ago some electrician decided 15 would be OK in my house.
I have one room with reading - ground plug 4 of them all same
Well I have 3 Apts all the lights and outlets are on 1 breaker grunted they used a 20 amp. Total of 36 connections in series and 1 gfci which is on the last item in the series a garbage disposal. I am hoping to break this all up into outlets only and lights only and by apt.
That's worse than my situation. Good luck!
@DrWiggo thx. As a start thr plan is to find the 1st outlet from the breaker and line in a GFCI. And at least protect the bunch until I gradually separate this mess for the owner. Just have to see what amp this main box is as it looks like I can put in a few more breakers. So I can at least separate the Apts. If I can avoid new service box I'll try and gfci each room even if I can't get outlets and lights separate. Beats having the tenant constantly resetting breakers. This is what I get for knowing how to install hardwire detectors. Can you do this now too lol. Ugh and I'm a hate to say no person. I'm a volunteer so not paid. But I use dro build in the 80s and 90s so not up to speed on code so I have to look periodically. But I like your down to earth shared experience.
Very good video, if a bit long-winded. My only criticism is that I believe you installed the hooks on the wires incorrectly. The hook should face so that as you tighten the screw it closes the loop. By installing it backwards, as you did, the loop tends to open. Very good job, however. Nice TV.
Longwinded is my trademark (and why I have chapter skips!). And you are correct, I put the wire hooks on backwards (this is how we learn). Thanks!
No biggie. I enjoyed the video and found it very helpful. Thanks again for posting it.
Same thing happened to me with the television deal and outlets,pain in the ass
Agreed.
My biggest problem with receptacles is the copper wire was over twisted during install and eventually snaps off.
That is indeed a problem. Don't really have any good advice for that.
If you need to undo a wire after removing a wire nut, don't try to untwist. Just cut and restrip and use a Wago lever nut to reconnect. No twisting is necessary.
@@surferdude642 man I like my twisted wires just because diy folks fuck it up doesn't mean I'm giving up my nuts my wire nuts I mean.
No you are wrong... To wire this the right way is to add pigtails to each wire white/black & ground then the pigtails are wired to the plug. The reason for this is you are no longer daisy chaining your plugs so if your plug has a loose connection or it burns out it does not effect the plugs down the line (this is Code is some States).
You are correct. That us the best way. But it's a lot more work than most people are willing to put in (in my state, including professional electricians!).
STAY on the SUBJECT dude - and only on the subject!!
I replaced all my outlets and I still have no power
Then you need an electrician, because you are outside my experience.
Pra mim comprar ele aqui no Brasil paguei 500 reais só de importação muito caro ele custa uns 20 doras mas o menos
Desculpe as taxas de importação (sei que o Brasil gosta de produtos locais), mas deve haver uma marca local aceitável. (Qualquer erro é do Google Translate)
Sooo, not too many outlets on one breaker, eh?
It’s logical to even this non-electric-non-handyman that ONE Breaker should not have very many outlets.
Hmmm. First you say “in my last video I didn’t exactly do everything kosher”. Then you say “this time I’m going to show you the right way to do it.” Doesn’t exactly exude confidence in your advice.
The earlier video wasn’t wrong, it just assumed some knowledge. So I did the second video to explain it better.
@@DrWiggo all I could go by was what you said. Still, I apologize for expressing my opinion on your page. Wasn't necessary.
15? I seriously doubt that is up to code
I'm thinking it had to be up to code in 1992 (when they built the house) because code enforcement is a big deal in my town (they drive around looking for infractions).
15 amp duplex receptacles are NEC compliant on 15 and 20 amp circuits. Some localities may require 20 amp receptacles on 20 amp circuits and have 12 gauge wire. 20 amp receptacles on 15 amp circuits, usually 14 gauge wire, is not permitted by code.
@@surferdude642 No, 15 outlets on one circuit
@@markme4 Yea, you're right, I missed the first 7 minutes. 15 does seem a bit much, but if you only use a few at a time it shouldn't matter. I'm not sure what code is, bit I've heard 10 is considered max.
@@surferdude642 Some one saving money
I love your information but you got to learn to quite with all the unnecessary talking.
I’m getting better, but it’s an uphill battle.
why does he remind me of Joe Exotic?(Tiger King)
Ouch! 😀
@@DrWiggoright!
😊I like talk like regular "DIYer";easy to understand, please make more videos
FIRST 7 MINUTES AND 28 SECONDS JUST TALKING , MAKES A VIDEO BORING. I SUBSCRIBED THIS CHANNEL TO PROMOT YOU THOUGH, THINK ABOUT STAYING FOCUS ON THE TITLE OF THE VIDEO THATS WHY PEOPLE TUNE IN TO YOUR CHANNEL
Thanks! I know I ramble on, which is why I always have chapter stops so viewers can skip ahead to the next part. I appreciate the input, but I will always talk too much.
Shame on you for not skipping by it then. The Doc is entertaining and that's his style. Geez !
I could use a little more substance and a little less background story , Just get to the point !
Sorry, but that's why I put the Chapter skips in. Skip to the point.
you talk too much no one wants to hear your thoughts
That's what the chapter stops are for. Skip ahead.
The video was cool, so disregard the h8rz. I learned a thing or 2.. So, thanks!
the next time you do this type of video, be aware of microphone placement! Your audio goes in and out as you turn your head!
unwatchable for me even though I like the content.
I've gotten much better since then. Thanks for letting me know.
I had no problem hearing you bud. And I'm deaf as hell! Lol! Keep up the good work!