Elliot T. Hill wrote:
My home, built in 1970 has several outlets (some GFI, some not) that seem to
loose power over time.
My wife's blow dryer used to work in all outlets, then quit working in some
of them.
Her curling iron will work in outlets that the blow dryer will not. I have
had appliances that do the same thing in my home office (same home).
An appliance will work in one outlet, then quit, I plug it into another
outlet, it works, but may eventually quit, try another and so on.
Once any given appliance quits working in an outlet, it never works again
(in that outlet). The home has copper wiring.

Thanks for any ideas or advice.

Both EXT and Eric pointed to the same mechanism - the current flow
causes the receptacle's connections to heat up and expand to the point
where contact is broken - and I have to agree. If it's only a few
outlets, and they're the most often used, then that would point to the
receptacles' contacts and not the back stab problem. It's also
possible that you only use those particular high wattage often-removed
devices in those particular outlets. Use those same devices in some
receptacles that you never use and see it you can recreate the problem
that way. If you can, you may have a loose connection further down
the circuit(s). As suggested, replace a problem receptacle and see
what's what.

I'm kind of surprised that it's not tripping a breaker if that is
what's happening. When you check the receptacle, check for any
blackened areas around the connections or inside at the plug contacts.

http://www.allabouthome.com/tips/ele...eshooting.html

R

I am also wondering if you have copper or aluminum wiring, given the
time frame that your house was built...

Thanks for the replies. My office (in my home) was built last year, has new
receptacles and has the same problems.
Some of the troubled outlets are GFI, they don't look very old. Was GFI
used in 1970?
Truly perplexing. I am going to buy a volt meter and see what I am getting.
Thanks again.






"RicodJour" wrote in message
ups.com...
Elliot T. Hill wrote:
My home, built in 1970 has several outlets (some GFI, some not) that seem
to
loose power over time.
My wife's blow dryer used to work in all outlets, then quit working in
some
of them.
Her curling iron will work in outlets that the blow dryer will not. I
have
had appliances that do the same thing in my home office (same home).
An appliance will work in one outlet, then quit, I plug it into another
outlet, it works, but may eventually quit, try another and so on.
Once any given appliance quits working in an outlet, it never works again
(in that outlet). The home has copper wiring.

Thanks for any ideas or advice.

Both EXT and Eric pointed to the same mechanism - the current flow
causes the receptacle's connections to heat up and expand to the point
where contact is broken - and I have to agree. If it's only a few
outlets, and they're the most often used, then that would point to the
receptacles' contacts and not the back stab problem. It's also
possible that you only use those particular high wattage often-removed
devices in those particular outlets. Use those same devices in some
receptacles that you never use and see it you can recreate the problem
that way. If you can, you may have a loose connection further down
the circuit(s). As suggested, replace a problem receptacle and see
what's what.

I'm kind of surprised that it's not tripping a breaker if that is
what's happening. When you check the receptacle, check for any
blackened areas around the connections or inside at the plug contacts.

http://www.allabouthome.com/tips/ele...eshooting.html

R