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    irish666_1's Avatar
    irish666_1 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Jul 4, 2009, 07:39 AM
    Kitchen outlets not working
    I recently moved into a house and all the outlets were working fine. I unplugged the coffee maker to move it to another counter while we were unpacking. When I went to plug it back into the original outlet, it sparked and now four outlets are not working. Nothing new was added into any of these four outlets from when the coffee maker was originally plugged in there, and nothing was on at the time that I plugged the coffee maker back in, so it shouldn't be due to overload or a surge.

    I checked the circuit breaker and no circuits were flipped. The only outlet in the entire house with a test and reset button is in the bathroom, and I did reset it. That outlet continues to work fine.

    Three of the outlets are on the same wall, two by the sink and one for the stove. The fourth outlet, which is the one with the coffee maker, is on the opposite side of the room. The outlet for the fridge works, since it is separate, and other outlets in the kitchen work fine too. All lights work fine.

    From reading the other posts, I am assuming that the outlet will need replaced? OR a wire got loose? Thanks!
    donf's Avatar
    donf Posts: 5,679, Reputation: 582
    Printers & Electronics Expert
    		  
    #2

    Jul 4, 2009, 08:36 AM

    Irish,

    Go back to the main panel. Please snap both 15 or 20 Amp circuits for the kitchen OFF. Make sure to pull them as far to the OFF position as you can. Then set them back ON.

    A breaker can shut off and still look as if it is ON.
    Perito's Avatar
    Perito Posts: 3,139, Reputation: 150
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #3

    Jul 4, 2009, 09:23 AM
    I recently moved into a house and all the outlets were working fine. I unplugged the coffee maker to move it to another counter while we were unpacking. When I went to plug it back into the original outlet, it sparked and now four outlets are not working. Nothing new was added into any of these four outlets from when the coffee maker was originally plugged in there, and nothing was on at the time that I plugged the coffee maker back in, so it shouldn't be due to overload or a surge.
    With the fireworks you describe, a circuit breaker almost surely tripped. Those sparks don't come from nowhere. It's almost certain that it was due to an overload (probably a short circuit). The fact that it was working earlier is quite irrelevant.

    The damaged outlet should certainly be replaced. If the coffee maker's plug or cord is damaged, it should be replaced also.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #4

    Jul 4, 2009, 11:19 AM

    You have 2 good answers to get you started. The outlet that sparked should be checked for a loose connection and maybe replacement. The bathroom outlet you describ is on a GFCI required for wet areas. The kitchen should also be a GFCI. It could be one outlet looking similar to the one in the bath or it could be a breaker that lloks slightly different than the others, look for one with a small yellow tab. If all else fails test the hot on each breaker, you may have a broken breaker, no pun.
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