Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    pastor1189's Avatar
    pastor1189 Posts: 1,538, Reputation: 3
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #1

    Jun 22, 2014, 09:07 AM
    Testing a outlet
    MultiMeter AC setting. Put the red probe in the right slot and the black in the left slot. Got a reading of 1. Then put the black lead into the oval slot and got a reading
    Of 1.

    Do you think it's the receptacle?
    donf's Avatar
    donf Posts: 5,679, Reputation: 582
    Printers & Electronics Expert
    		  
    #2

    Jun 22, 2014, 12:29 PM
    You got a reading of 1 volt? No at this point I do not believe it s the receptacle. If you CA approximate the mid point of the circuit, between the failing receptacle and the circuit breaker, test a that point and then work your next test point in either direction until you isolate the failure.
    pastor1189's Avatar
    pastor1189 Posts: 1,538, Reputation: 3
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #3

    Jun 23, 2014, 03:36 AM
    Thanks don. The outlet in the bedroom has a conduit with just two wires. The pipe just ends there. The tester on the bare wires show 1-5
    Volts. All the other outlets in the house works.
    donf's Avatar
    donf Posts: 5,679, Reputation: 582
    Printers & Electronics Expert
    		  
    #4

    Jun 23, 2014, 11:34 AM
    If there are only two wires to the receptacle, then that receptacle is on the end of the branch circuit. What is on the rest of the circuit?

    Do you know which circuit breaker controls that circuit? If so, have you tried to reset the breaker. Sometimes a breaker will trip even though the handle will appear to be in the "On" position the breaker is off.

    Try pushing the handle as far to the off position as possible and then switching it back on.
    pastor1189's Avatar
    pastor1189 Posts: 1,538, Reputation: 3
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #5

    Jun 23, 2014, 11:45 AM
    I will try resetting the breakers. The rest of the circuit is working.
    smearcase's Avatar
    smearcase Posts: 2,392, Reputation: 316
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #6

    Jun 23, 2014, 11:55 AM
    Pastor, What range of voltage is the multimeter set for? Could you actually be reading between 100 and 150 volts maybe?
    What happens if you plug in just a regular lamp?
    pastor1189's Avatar
    pastor1189 Posts: 1,538, Reputation: 3
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #7

    Jun 23, 2014, 01:43 PM
    Just no power at all. Tried various items electric razor lamp, meter is acv
    750 -200 just on the bare wires themselves only showed 1-5 volts
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
    Uber Member
    		  
    #8

    Jun 23, 2014, 02:36 PM
    If it is a Harbor freight tester, the voltage switch is 0-200 and 0-750. Default is 1 volt for continuity check. No voltage to the outlet.
    pastor1189's Avatar
    pastor1189 Posts: 1,538, Reputation: 3
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #9

    Jun 23, 2014, 03:25 PM
    Attachment 46180 Yes it is a harbor freight item set on acv 750-200
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
    Uber Member
    		  
    #10

    Jun 23, 2014, 05:25 PM
    Look at your setting switch. It is EITHER 0-200 or 0-750.
    pastor1189's Avatar
    pastor1189 Posts: 1,538, Reputation: 3
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #11

    Jun 24, 2014, 03:32 AM
    Meter show the rest of the outlets at 226-220 volts. There is no voltage
    In these two wires. I do not know why?
    pastor1189's Avatar
    pastor1189 Posts: 1,538, Reputation: 3
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #12

    Jun 24, 2014, 03:47 AM
    Put a nightlight last night in the outlet. At 2 A.M. it came on.
    Now the outlet suddenly has power. Reads 120 Volts. Must be something loose
    Somewhere?
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
    Uber Member
    		  
    #13

    Jun 24, 2014, 10:16 AM
    Pull the outlet and check the wires. If they are stabbed in the back, that is possibly the problem. Rewire using the screw terminals.
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
    Uber Member
    		  
    #14

    Jun 24, 2014, 10:17 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by pastor1189 View Post
    Meter show the rest of the outlets at 226-220 volts. There is no voltage
    In these two wires. I do not know why?
    I hope not!! 120-126 would be logical.
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Testing for amps in an outlet [ 2 Answers ]

What setting do I use on my multimeter to test for the number of amps available in an outlet. For example, I want to see if a kitchen plug is split with 15 amps up and 15 amps down. Thanks, Erik

Outlet testing as open ground [ 2 Answers ]

History: Bought the house a few month ago, there was a TWO prong outlet over the mantle that I want to plug my TV into but it didn't work. I didn't put a tester on it until after I tried replaced it but I used a working lamp and it didn't work. Now: I bought a surge supression outlet ($20 a...

Testing outlet amperage with multimeter [ 2 Answers ]

Can you test the actual amperage of a 120v home outlet with a multimeter? When I plug in an appliance over 10amps in the 15amp outlet, the GFI kicks off. I want to test the outlet to see exactly how many amps are available. Thanks

Testing 220v outlet [ 3 Answers ]

Hello! I have a 4 wire outlet in the garage which is used for a generator. Wire colors are Black, Red, White, and a Copper wire wrapped in paper. All the wiring is contained in a metal conduit. I just purchased a heater for the garage and it had a 3 wire plug. I disconnected the conduit,...

Testing an electrical outlet [ 13 Answers ]

When testing an electrical outlet with a circuit tester and all three lights come on, what does that mean and how do correct it? Thanks, Mike

View more questions Search