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ravengirl21 · Jun 20, 2010, 10:07 AM

Yesterday I was cooking dinner and part of the kitchen power went out. I thought I tripped the circuit since this has happened before over the years, however the circuit wasn't tripped. I tried turning the power switches to every room and the main power to the house off and on. The kitchen outlets effected do not have reset buttons. 3 outlets are effected that run the refrigerator, microwave, phone, and toaster oven.

I figured that the circuit breaker needed replaced so I switched circuit boxes with another part of the house and found that I had power now. So, I bought a new circuit breaker box switch and replaced the bad one. Everything worked for a while but when I woke up this morning, the power was out again for the kitchen and the part of the kitchen that I switched boxes with and the range box was tripped.

So, I bought 2 new circuti boxes and replaced and rest everything again. Now I have power to all parts of the house except the original part that was out. Even with the second new circuit breaker box switch, there is no power coming through now.

Suggestions? My next step seems to be to call an electrician because it appears to be something with the wiring (?) maybe.

Thanks for any thoughts. I feel like I have tried everything that I possible know of have found on the web.

Stratmando · Jun 20, 2010, 10:16 AM

A cheap test light or meter will eleminate unnecessary purchases.
If voltage is at the breaker, it is likely good.
If no Power is available at breaker, it is bad.

ballengerb1 · Jun 20, 2010, 11:15 AM

Once you confirm power is entering and leaving the breaker then open each of the 3 outlets and confirm power coming in. I think you have an open circuit which is arcing open and close all by itself from time to time.

ravengirl21 · Jun 20, 2010, 06:25 PM

Thanks, but no luck. I am even now more confused. I tested the breaker with a voltmeter and there is power. Then, I tested the 4 outlets that are effected. (I thought there were 3, but there are actually 4). Confusing part to me is that 2 of the outlets have power on the voltmeter around 120. The other 2 have nothing. None of the 4 work with any applicances or other objects we try. The applicances do work in good uneffected outlets.

Any new thoughts before I make the electrician call? Thank you!

ravengirl21 · Jun 20, 2010, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Stratmando

A cheap test light or meter will eleminate unnecesary purchases.
If voltage is at the breaker, it is likely good.
If no Power is available at breaker, it is bad.

Thanks. I tried. See my comment below.

ravengirl21 · Jun 20, 2010, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Once you confirm power is entering and leaving the breaker then open each of the 3 outlets and confirm power coming in. I think you have an open circuit which is arcing open and close all by itself from time to time.

Thanks. I tried. See my comment above.

ballengerb1 · Jun 20, 2010, 06:27 PM

When you test the 2 that work are you putting your test leads into the two slots or are you touching a grounded object or screw?

ravengirl21 · Jun 20, 2010, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

When you test the 2 that work are you putting your test leads into the two slots or are you touching a grounded object or screw?

I put them in the slots.

Stratmando · Jun 20, 2010, 06:34 PM

Hopefully a different circuit, you are supposed to have a maximum of 2 recepticles per circuit in the Kitchen, and should be GFI?
The Bad circuit may pass through the good recepticles boxes. May help in troubleshooting.

ballengerb1 · Jun 20, 2010, 06:34 PM

This is weird, you test in the slots and get power in 2 outlets but an appliance will not work in them, very weird. Try reaching I on the sides of all 4 outlets and touch your test leads to the silver and the copper screws.

ravengirl21 · Jun 20, 2010, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by Stratmando

Hopefully a different circuit, you are supposed to have a maximum of 2 recepticles per circuit in the Kitchen, and should be GFI?
The Bad circuit may pass through the good recepticles boxes. May help in troubleshooting.

GFI... meaning it has a test/reset button, right? If so, no it does not have that. This is an older home from 1970... not sure if that matters, but none of my outlets have the reset button anywhere in my house.

2 recepticles would make sense since the 2 that are not working are near each other and the 2 working are near each other. All 4 are in somewhat of a line.

Stratmando · Jun 20, 2010, 06:54 PM

Likely the 2 circuits leave the panel in the same conduit, if conduit, it can help identify circuit if it is not marked.
Panels sometimes have GFI Breakers.
An Electrician will likely follow back to the panel and may go through other 2 outlets. Can also be a place for a bad connection.

ravengirl21 · Jun 20, 2010, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

This is weird, you test in the slots and get power in 2 outlets but an appliance will not work in them, very weird. Try reaching i on the sides of all 4 outlets and touch your test leads to the silver and the copper screws.

OK, I used the voltmeter to test to the screws. All 4 outlets have some power to the screws around 113-120v. When I test back in the slots, it is back to nothing or as high as 11v.

ravengirl21 · Jun 20, 2010, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by Stratmando

Likely the 2 circuits leave the panel in the same conduit, if conduit, it can help identify circuit if it is not marked.
Panels sometimes have GFI Breakers.
An Electrician will likely follow back to the panel and may go through other 2 outlets. Can also be a place for a bad connection.

Please read the comment I just made about the outlet voltage readings.

Thanks for your help.

Stratmando · Jun 21, 2010, 04:48 AM

The slots in the back are not important, only the slots in front.
If the wire is pushed into the hole in the back, and not tight around the screws, that is likely your problem.
Backwiring is bad and they usually end up failing.
Since you are at the back of the receptacle, can you see wires passing through the box, or is this done in romex?
Plug a known good lamp turned on into receptacle and see if you still have the voltage on the screws.

ravengirl21 · Jun 21, 2010, 06:42 PM

Thank you! Thank you! For all your help! Between the two of you, I think I have the problem fixed! After testing the votage in the slots and at the screws and at all 4 outlets, I noticed some differences. Some with power, some not, but none working. One stood out as being the worst and another as barely getting power. So, I replaced the outlets to these two.

I have power to all 4 outlets! All appliances work! Yeah!

FYI... the outlet that was the worst of the 4 appeared to have some weird wiring to the screws or stuck in the back of the outlet instead of around the screw. Not sure if this is normal. When I replaced it, I set it up with the copper wires around the screws only.

Again, thank you! I am keeping my fingers crossed that this was the only problem.

Stratmando · Jun 21, 2010, 06:57 PM

Personally if this was my house, and you find several recepticles "backstabbed" I would remove them and change out to Decora Style, This give the house a more Modern Look and I believe can add Thousands of Dollar$ to the value or you house by the feel of being newer.
To have an Electrician do this, It is only the difference of the price of new Decora Style recepticles, as apposed to wrapping the wire around the screws on the old recepticles.
Take Care