View Full Version : Three outlets dead in a circuit, where the light right before the first outlet works
joyswilleod
Sep 1, 2009, 05:34 PM
Recently discovered the refrigerator/freezer lights off after using an electric tea maker plugged into the outlet three feet above the one where the fridge is plugged in. I have replaced the breaker and all three outlets in the circuit, and still no outlets work. What could be up here?
hkstroud
Sep 1, 2009, 06:23 PM
Is there a GFI outlet in the kitchen?
joyswilleod
Sep 1, 2009, 06:39 PM
No there is not. This set of outlets is on the wall opposite the sink area.
hkstroud
Sep 1, 2009, 06:50 PM
There is no GFI in the kitchen at all?
joyswilleod
Sep 1, 2009, 07:20 PM
No. My home is a 1987 doublewide mobile home. The only GFCI outlets, which I have installed myself, are on circuits other than the one in question.
hkstroud
Sep 1, 2009, 08:59 PM
If there are any other outlets on this circuit, go to it and see if it is wired using the little holes in the back.
joyswilleod
Sep 1, 2009, 09:13 PM
In my initial post, I stated that I have replaced the only three outlets in this circuit. In doing so I removed the outlets for which the manufacturer utilized the holes in the back. Incidentally, none of the wires was loose, until I pried them out of the holes. I installed the new outlets using the screws on each side, thus ensuring tight connections. All that said, the outlets still do not work.
Maybe not so incidentally, though I thought I had cut off the appropriate breaker for this circuit, I still had power at the last one in the circuit. Yet when I installed the new outlet, it will not power anything plugged into it.
hkstroud
Sep 1, 2009, 09:30 PM
If you had power to an outlet when you turn the breaker off, that outlet is on another circuit.
Turn breaker off. Check all outlets. Any outlet that does not have power should be on that circuit. If you find any outlet (other than the ones you already know is on that circuit) that does not work, check it to see if it is wired using the back stab holes. These are notorious for developing bad connections. Outlets in other rooms may be on that circuit.
joyswilleod
Sep 2, 2009, 11:40 AM
I found the problem to be a wire outside of a wirenut at a light in the circuit. We're back in business! Thanks for the help!
hkstroud
Sep 2, 2009, 03:37 PM
Good. Congratulations on successfully trouble shooting.