Blown Outlet

[Teketumbo]

I had an outlet in my garage that was running a space heater and a deep freezer. I had the heater hooked up to a 6 way power strip. Anyways the circuit never popped but everything on that outlet stopped working. I replaced the outlet with a brand new outlet and still nothing works.

I have a tester and it shows that there is some power going to the new outlet.

Any Ideas of what I should do?

[Hube]

Welcome to the forum; You say you replaced this outlet and have SOME(??) power going to it.How much is some? There could be a loose or bad connection (burnt or frayed) some where between the breaker and this outlet. With your TESTER make SURE you have a VOLTAGE in the 110- 120 Volt range. If the proper voltage is at this point then this outlet is alright. Check out the appliances on another known good outlet and see if they work. Let us know what you find, good luck, Hube

[Teketumbo]

I have a pen size tester that beeps and flashes if power is present. It does not give the voltage. Its just a quick way to insure that there is no power to the place you are working on. If the outlet was overloaded would that ruin/burn the electrical wire leading back to the circuit breaker? I will follow the wiring back to the next outlet and try to replace that.

Also all the appliances work in the other outlets in the garage.

[irregularjoe]

quote:Originally posted by Teketumbo

I had an outlet in my garage that was running a space heater and a deep freezer. I had the heater hooked up to a 6 way power strip. Anyways the circuit never popped but everything on that outlet stopped working. I replaced the outlet with a brand new outlet and still nothing works.

I have a tester and it shows that there is some power going to the new outlet.

Any Ideas of what I should do





space heaters draw 10 to 13 amps. freezers can draw up to 18 when they cycle (depending on age and condition of compressor).
So run them together and could have had 30 amps screaming through that circuit. (and what else did you have on the circuit?)
The damage could be anywhere between the circuit breaker and the plug. Damaged wires, burned terminals on the upstream plugs, even burned lugs where the breaker plugs in.
Start at the plug that cuased the overloading issue and work backwards. Pull out each plug and switch that's in the circuit and check for power at each. Check the condition of the wires that enter the switch and also the wires that leave it. If there is any lighting involved in the circuit, you'll have to remove that as well. Junction points are sometimes made at the light box and branch out from there.
Good luck.

Did you ever see OHM'S mother in LAW?...... SHOCKING!




one more thought. you said it's in the garage. did you check the possibility of a gfi in the circuit. garage plugs normally are gfi protected. it could be from another gfi somewhere else in the house. (bathroom, kitchen, outdoor plug)

[Teketumbo]

Problem has been solved. I followed the wire back to previous Junction box. Turns out there were 3 white wires twisted together. When I would move the wires the outlet would work. I ended up buying a bigger wire cap that would twist 3 wires together better. I tightend it very well.

So it ended up being a loose connection with the ground wire.

Thanks again to all who helped.

[irregularjoe]

quote:Originally posted by Teketumbo

Problem has been solved. I followed the wire back to previous Junction box. Turns out there were 3 white wires twisted together. When I would move the wires the outlet would work. I ended up buying a bigger wire cap that would twist 3 wires together better. I tightend it very well.

So it ended up being a loose connection with the ground wire.

Thanks again to all who helped.

The whites are the neutral wires. And yes that is the way to fix it.
Congrads!

Did you ever see OHM'S mother in LAW?...... SHOCKING!