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Ok this is an older house and the breaker box is on the outside. I did as you asked and reset all the breakers. here is a list of whats affected.
Three new (1 year) GFIC's . the first one is located about 4 feet from the breaker box but its inside my kitchen nook. No power going into this.
Next there are two more out in my carport and my tool shed. These are at the end of the line. An ex boyfriend installed them last year for me after I built my shed.(he's an electrican but not residential)
Then the switch and overhead light in my kitchen nook, no power in or out. The switch and overhead light in my laundy room and same for living room and dinning room, once again no power in or out. Now there is one more thing, my furnace which is gas but has an electric ignit also is not comming on. It's kind of hard to get to, but could there be some kind of trip in that?
Robin :)
Followup To
Question -
I turned off my breakers one at a time to map what they were for so I could change my garbage disposal. After they were all turned back on, I found that I dont have power in some of my overhead lights and a couple outlets. I have power comming from each breaker and even changed the one I thought was the problem , but still have no power to these areas. I checked the GFIC and all the switches and outlets and they have no power comming in or out. I'm stumped what could be the problem? oh yes I didn't work on any of the outlets that are not working.
Answer -
Hi Robin,
If you tested each wire on the breaker with some type of meter and there is power leaving all of them, then the only other simple solution is the GFI outlets. Sometimes they trip out and it isn't real obvious. There should be 1 GFI in the bathroom, 1, or possibly 2, in the kitchen and 1 in the garage. To locate the one in question, you need to define which are of the house is affected. Kitchen,bathrooms,garage or outside areas. Whichever area you find, check the GFI by pushing the "test" button, then the reset. Sometimes the GFI's buttons get stuck due to normal house dust and other "stuff" in the air so when they trip out, the buttons don't pop out to indicate any trouble.
If this doesn't solve the problem, humor me and go back to the main panel and shut each breaker off, and then turn it back on.
If none of this heps, get back to me and describe each device that isn't working as to it's location in the house, and what items you may have plugged into the outlets.
There is another procedure we can try, but it is complicated and time consuming and it's no use getting onto that unless we have to. It has to do with the neutral wires(White ones), and hot wires (black ones) and opening up each device and checking to see if it is operating properly.
Good Luck,
Don Beck
Answer Hi Robin,
OK, now we start trouble shooting, 1 step at a time.
Remove the GFI that is closest to the panel, from the wall box. Leave the wires hooked up. If you don't have a voltage tester, you will need to get one. It can be purchased at most home improvement centers for around $5.00.
Using the tester, check to see if you get a reading on the "LINE SIDE" of the GFI outlet. This should be marked on the outlet somewhere. If you do, then the GFI is defective and needs to be replaced. If you don't, then it suggests that the problem is either in the breaker panel, or in the wire from the panel to the outlet.
If it's in the panel it would be a loose wire, either on the breaker or the grounding bar. Find the black and white pair of wires that feed the outlet and make sure they are seated undder the screw and anchored tightly.
If none of the above works, it indicates a break in the wire somehwere whichi means that wire would need to be replaced. The bad news is, it could be a difficult and messy job to replace, the good news is, it's very unlikely the wire is damaged.
It is possible that there is another outlet bewteen the panel and the GFI that is defective. To see if there is another outlet, it's a matter of logic. Do you see another outlet that could possibly be between the panel and the GFI? It may be hidden behind storage items etc. so you may have to search for it, if it even exists. If you locate one, do what you did with GFI and meter and check to see if anything is coming into the outlet.
I really suspect a defective GFI or, a loose wire. Loose wires are not uncommon. Wires work loose due to normal street and house vibrations.
I'll be anxiously awaiting to see how this comes out.
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