On Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:59:30 GMT, "Donna"
wrote:


"G Wood" wrote in message
...
"Donna" wrote in message
news:A3GQi.1551$pl2.471@trndny09...

Thanks, guys.

Romex is very tough stuff, so unless there was work done with a saws-all
or
such after the finishing work, it will be a connection issue. First step
would be to check the outlets that have failed. If you know the most
upstream (first on the circuit from breaker box), check to ensure it isn't
a
bad outlet.

There are three outlets (counting the porch light as an "outlet" for the
purposes of this post) that have failed. No other outlets in the house are
dead (and yes, to the gentleman who asked, they did work, directly before
the renovation).


From your (your plural that is.) kind responses, it seems that the three
dead outlets are at the end of a circuit, since everything else works. The
interruption must begin at the first dead plug (which is in the office). I
have, actually, pulled the wiring out and looked at it. Everything that I
saw looks to be correctly connected. But as you all have cleverly
ascertained, I'm not an electrician.

Get a circuit tester and see if the hot wire has juice. If so,
then the outlet could be faulty and not only is it non-functional, it is
blocking current from travelling to the next outlet on the circuit. If
not,
then you need to work upstream from there. One of the junction boxes will
have a bad connection, you just need to pray it's accessible.

I'll get a circuit tester. The plug next up the line is also in the
office, and works fine, so I suspect you've figured out the problem.
Something seems to be wrong with the first dead plug, and either there is a
loose connection, or there is an interruption of some kind, and either way,
it's a pretty simple thing for an electrician to fix. Is that correct?


This assumes there are other plugs/lights on the circuit that DO work, and
that it isn't a bad circuit breaker in the box.

That is a correct assumption. The circuit breaker is fine, and every other
plug in the house works, including the one that connects to the first dead
plug box.

I just figured you checked
for that already.

Never assume. But yes, I did check that. Beyond that point, though,
I needed some guidance. Thanks.

Donna


Donna

You did open the first dead outlet and said it looks fine. Thats a
good start. However, the problem is likely in the outlet BEFORE the
first dead one, unless of course these 3 "outlets" are the only thing
on that circuit. If the first one is on your office, it would likely
be the outlet closest to this dead one, either to the left or right.
I'd open each one of them in that room and check for broken wires,
loose screws, etc. Also carefully look at the sides of the outlet (by
screws) and be sure nothing looks burnt. There is a small piece of
metal between the screws on each outlet (part of the outlet). Be sure
they are not burnt in half. Also, what is on the outside of that
office wall? Could there be another outlet there?

That first dead outlet should have had 2 white and 2 black wires in
the box. One pair comes IN to the box, the other goes OUT to the next
outlet. Sometimes (not always), you can see the direction of the
wires in the wall. That often helps. There are devices that beep to
determine the direction of the wires too, but they are costly.

Keep opening boxes and checking things. Just be safe about it.

I have done wiring for years, and I always find the problem, but even
after years of doing it, it sometimes can take some time to find the
culprit. Be patient, and just open each box and check. Tighten all
wire screws while you are at it.

one other thing, "IF" you have any idea which breaker controlled those
outlets, that would really help, because you could turn that one off
and determine what still works on that circuit. If there are any
labels in your breaker box, that may help.