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    newnik29's Avatar
    newnik29 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Dec 15, 2008, 08:30 PM
    In the Kitchen: 117v @ grd, 4v@ neutral. No coffee.
    I came home tonight to find the kitchen outlets that usually work fine aren't working. The coffee maker won't work, the toaster oven won't work and the counter top griddle won't work. There are 3 receptacles in question: 2 duplex outlets down-line from a GFI. I tried testing and resetting the GFI and the problem persists. I flipped the breakers off and on but the problem persists.

    I noticed there are 2 GFIs in the kitchen, too. The 2nd GFI works fine and I'm quite sure it's on a different circuit altogether. Same goes for the bathroom GFI on the other side of the wall. Separate circuit, works fine.

    I remembered I have a DMM, so I tested the voltage at the outlets. All 3 outlets tested the same:
    +/- 117v with the red lead in the right slot and the black lead in the ground hole
    +/- 0.4v with the red lead in the right slot and the black lead in the left slot.

    Reality is that I don't know what to do with that information, let alone move on to the next step in troubleshooting.

    Any help? How do I figure out the problem with the outlets?

    Thanks,
    Newnik
    KC13's Avatar
    KC13 Posts: 2,556, Reputation: 99
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    #2

    Dec 15, 2008, 08:36 PM

    Sounds like you have lost the neutral circuit, perhaps at the GFI. If you can test-trip the GFI then you have power to it. Check the load-side wiring, but I would bet the GFI is bad.
    newnik29's Avatar
    newnik29 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Dec 15, 2008, 08:45 PM

    Perhaps I sounded smarter than I am: How do I "Check the load-side wiring"? Doesn't that require tearing open walls?
    KISS's Avatar
    KISS Posts: 12,510, Reputation: 839
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    #4

    Dec 15, 2008, 09:41 PM

    The GFCI has an IN (line side) and an OUT (Load side).

    Pull the GFCI out of the wall and check for power on the LINE and LOAD side. When the GFCI trips, you lose powe to the LOAD (all outlets down stream including the integrated GFCI outlet)
    KC13's Avatar
    KC13 Posts: 2,556, Reputation: 99
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    #5

    Dec 16, 2008, 04:57 AM

    Yeah, you got me, you sounded pretty smart.:p
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #6

    Dec 16, 2008, 05:46 AM

    Does sound like you lost a neutral, when a GFI trips, it removes the hot AND neutral. Not just the neutral.
    newnik29's Avatar
    newnik29 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #7

    Dec 16, 2008, 06:51 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by KeepItSimpleStupid View Post
    The GFCI has an IN (line side) and an OUT (Load side).

    Pull the GFCI out of the wall and check for power on the LINE and LOAD side. When the GFCI trips, you lose powe to the LOAD (all outlets down stream including the integrated GFCI outlet)
    I should make it clear that the GFCI never tripped. I tested it, but it wasn't tripped in the first place.

    I DO have a bad habit of talking smart. I end up with all sorts of information and I don't know what to do with it. :rolleyes:
    KISS's Avatar
    KISS Posts: 12,510, Reputation: 839
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    #8

    Dec 16, 2008, 07:17 AM

    Don't care if it tripped or not. You still have to make sure there is power coming into the GFCI and power coming out with the GFCI enabled.
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