gfci has me stumped - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

robanderin · 09-14-2009, 11:11 PM

I am in no way a expert elec. but I know a enough to get by... working in my garage today and a neibhoor came over and said outlet in garage dead..easy right... the gfci in garage and both the exteriors (back and front) not working.. the two outside are circuts at end of run, no power. at garage outlet no power ...all gfci in house checked out (power in power out) test and reset worked fine all breakers have at least 124v coming out,searched high and low for someother outlet even up in the eves for xmas outlet. being this is a two story with bed over garage cant trace wire.

..what am I missing...

Thanks in advance

mrmike · 09-15-2009, 05:59 AM

The only thing I can add is to check the 240v breakers too. I have found that somebody had split & used an old electric heater wire to supply 120v circuits. If it isn't on one of those, I would suggest you find where it enters the garage & into the house & trace it out from there. It should be UF "underground" cable which is usually grey. Good luck....................

woodchuck2 · 09-15-2009, 07:40 AM

Sorry if i seem confused but just how many recepticles are in/out of the garage and which one is the GFCI? You mentioned that the 2 outside recepticles are end of run "circuit", so did they both branch off the same GFCI or are they two different circuits? I would begin by pulling recepticles apart that are dead and obviously with circuit off and check all conections. Then turn the circuit back on and begin testing to see where you have power and where you dont. Has this guy been doing any work to his garage like drilling holes anywhere or installing siding? Things to think about when someone "looses" power. As mrmike said if there is no power to the garage at all then you may have a problem with the wire servicing the garage from the home. Also check connections in the main panel too that service the garage. DO NOT TOUCH the connections for the main panel itself.

robanderin · 09-15-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodchuck2

Sorry if i seem confused but just how many recepticles are in/out of the garage and which one is the GFCI? You mentioned that the 2 outside recepticles are end of run "circuit", so did they both branch off the same GFCI or are they two different circuits? I would begin by pulling recepticles apart that are dead and obviously with circuit off and check all conections. Then turn the circuit back on and begin testing to see where you have power and where you dont. Has this guy been doing any work to his garage like drilling holes anywhere or installing siding? Things to think about when someone "looses" power. As mrmike said if there is no power to the garage at all then you may have a problem with the wire servicing the garage from the home. Also check connections in the main panel too that service the garage. DO NOT TOUCH the connections for the main panel itself.

Thanks for the replies...there is are two plugs in garage (one is for sprinkler timer,on breaker with garage lights) all GFCI's in house were pulled had power in and out just completly dead in garage,panel checked out as well. This is a fairly new house in a new sub division (4yrs) , no nothing has been modified,thats why this is so strange,heading out this morning...either I am missing a gfci somewhere, I have also ran across were mice eat into the wire if thats the case looks like I need to start cutting to trace wire.

thanks again

woodchuck2 · 09-15-2009, 04:20 PM

Is this garage attached? If not then there should have been a sub-panel installed inside the garage and powered from the home "main panel". At least that is how most common folks have a garage wired.

TxElectrician · 09-15-2009, 04:26 PM

put a toner on it and follow the beep

robanderin · 09-15-2009, 05:47 PM

Thanks guy's mystery solved, I knew there had to be more than one plug in that damn garage, what had happened was I went a few houses down to the same plan and asked to look in the garage...on the back wall there was a 2 inch recessed niche with the GFCI with test/reset ,the previous H/O I guess whanted a flush wall and firred that whole wall out and left the plug behind there!!!!

reset and walla power

Thanks again for the replies..until next time

WarriorWithWood · 09-15-2009, 06:32 PM

Nice catch.

I hope you charged for all that time.

robanderin · 09-15-2009, 07:29 PM

I didn't get him for to much,during that time and a little bonding he hired me to do several other jobs around the house, I'll get it back there

MALCO.New.York · 09-15-2009, 07:33 PM

^^^^ That is how it is done!!!! ^^^^

ampman · 09-15-2009, 07:58 PM

are you an electrician

MALCO.New.York · 09-15-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampman

are you an electrician

Who are you asking?

ampman · 09-15-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York

Who are you asking?

the o.p.

MALCO.New.York · 09-15-2009, 08:11 PM

I would venture to bargain your farm and mine that they sho-nuff not!

ampman · 09-15-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York

I would venture to bargain your farm and mine the they sho-nuff not!

this is what i'am thinking

Tinstaafl · 09-15-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampman

are you an electrician

So. What.

Sorry, but this has been ticking me off lately. Yes, I fully understand the possible repercussions of working outside of one's "proper" field, but come on, guys!

The point of a forum is [supposed to be] information exchange, not "who can I crucify next?"

Obviously the guy's not an electrician. So what? Is there any one of us who hasn't at one time or another stepped out of his comfort zone for whatever reason? At the least, if you don't, you're stagnating.

Not specifically picking on you, ampman; sorry. It's just that it almost seems like no one can post a question here about practically anything without such challenges, and by and large they are completely unnecessary. It's much easier to simply not respond at all.

The moderators here are all very experienced at sorting out the doofuses from the Real Guys, and generally are better at doing so without creating a bunch of bloodshed for the ghouls to feed on. I'd much rather live in that Happy Smurf World.

robanderin · 09-15-2009, 10:25 PM

about 20 years ago till I got smart and got a general B now I just hire guys like you to do the work!!

well said tinstaafi..... dude its not like I was using a 12/2 to hook up the guy's welder and then black tape it and shove it in the wall

Magnettica · 09-15-2009, 10:49 PM

Then why are YOU asking for advice? Shouldn't one of the guys you've hired be asking these tech questions?

reveivl · 09-16-2009, 10:13 AM

He was looking for advice on this forum. That is what this forum is for. He had an interesting problem and solved it himself by looking down the street at a similar house. This was good detective work and is a valuable lesson for those on the forum who wish to learn.

The 'are you an electrician' comment is unwarranted. Do you think only electricians are qualified to reset a GFCI?

Immanuel · 09-16-2009, 12:08 PM

I have no problem with non-electricians doing electrical work ... i installed my own toilet and re-tiled my floor the other day ( and i'm not plumber or tile guy)

What i have a problem with is guys charging

OTHERS

to do electrical work. I'll give out advice anyday to the home handyman trying to fix his own stuff .. but when he asks me how to fix someone elses stuff he's stealing my livelihood AND potentially putting lives in danger .. and that's what pisses me off.