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QuiltnNan · May 8, 2012, 06:02 PM

I have a kitchen with 5 20-amp outlets in a newly purchased '70s home. While renovating, I've been running only the radio in the gutted kitchen. Now that I have a few cabinets in, I plugged in a small microwave. It ran for a few seconds. Then the light dimmed and the power dipped. The circuit breaker did not trip. I moved the microwave to another circuit and it runs just fine. I want to get this problem resolved before I move in my almost new side-by-side refrigerator. I don't have an amp meter and don't really know how to read/use one. My daughter may be able to help me with one next week. Does anyone have any suggestions/ideas for resolving this? TIA

ballengerb1 · May 8, 2012, 07:44 PM

Are all 5 receptacles on the same circuit? Any GFCI?

QuiltnNan · May 8, 2012, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Are all 5 receptacles on the same circuit? Any GFCI?

Yes, those 5 are on the same circuit with one GFCI in the middle

ballengerb1 · May 9, 2012, 07:46 AM

Do you know if that GFCI receptacle is stand alone or is it also protecting the other 4 receptacles making them GFCI? I would open the receptacle that allowed the dimming and check for good, tight connections. Beware of any back stab wires that are pushed into the small hole rather than attached by the screw on the side.

QuiltnNan · May 9, 2012, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Do you know if that GFCI receptacle is stand alone or is it also protecting the other 4 receptacles making them GFCI? I would open the receptacle that allowed the dimming and check for good, tight connections. Beware of any back stab wires that are pushed into the small hole rather than attached by the screw on the side.

Thanks for your response. It's my understanding that GFCI protects all outlets on the same circuit [up to 12, I think]. All of the receptacles on the circuit act the same when the microwave is plugged in. I do know that the wires are all 'back stabbed'. Perhaps I should try to change them to standard connections.

ballengerb1 · May 9, 2012, 03:08 PM

I would change at least the one that allows dimming. If that makes an improvement then change all of them to the screws, black wire to copper colored screw, white to silver screw. Trip the GFCI and test all of the receptacle to see if your assumption is correct. They should ll be on the GFCI in the litchen but you never know.