Crackling/sizzling noise

[machinist]

That's awesome, Bodrey! Great job troubleshooting and seeing it through to the end. It’s interesting how the missing ground affected the tester, definitely something we can all learn from when dealing with this kind of issue. Must feel good to have everything wired up correctly and working as it should. Well done!

[TinyTool]

Congrats on getting everything rewired and working properly!

[JimmyMechanic]

Wonderful! So glad!

DONE!!! I finished re-wiring the entire circuit and re-installed the GFCI today. Of course, I tested it before putting everything back and it's all good. It turns out that I should not have gotten any indicators lighting up when I tested the GFCI previously when pressing the GFCI button. When I tested it on my kitchen GFCIs pressing the button caused them to trip their breakers. I'm surmising that the absence of a ground wire (from the run between the panel and the junction box) meant that the tester was not able to properly test the GFCI as intended (tripping its breaker). Instead, because of a lack of ground wire, it threw a "hot/neutral reversed" fault. Problem solved - finally!

[Bodrey]

Thanks everyone. Yes, I'm glad I was able to resolve the issue. The fix wasn't quick or easy (is it ever?), but having to replace the run between the panel and the junction box was a blessing in disguise because there was no ground. It needed to be done anyway, and as a result it also cleared up the false negative I was getting with my tester.