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Message
Electrical problem (not flood related)
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:35 pm
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:35 pm
Having a problem in the living room. House didn't get any water so I know it isn't that. Whenever I plug anything into the longest wall in the living room, it won't work..UNLESS I plug something into the shortest wall also.
For example I plugged the TV into the longest wall. It worked. Unplugged my phone charger from shortest wall and TV turned off. So I plugged a lamp into the shortest wall and the TV came back on. I've tried to call some electricians but everyone has bigger problems right now, and I understand completely. My problem isn't that I can't watch TV. My problem is that I'm worried this is some type of wiring issue that could lead to a fire or something. Forgive me, I know little to nothing about electrical circuits. I tried flipping the breaker panel and it didn't help.
Thanks for the suggestions or ideas. I have unplugged everything on both walls until I can figure this out and make sure it is safe. The other side of the longest wall backs up to my daughter's bedroom so I'm not taking any chances.
For example I plugged the TV into the longest wall. It worked. Unplugged my phone charger from shortest wall and TV turned off. So I plugged a lamp into the shortest wall and the TV came back on. I've tried to call some electricians but everyone has bigger problems right now, and I understand completely. My problem isn't that I can't watch TV. My problem is that I'm worried this is some type of wiring issue that could lead to a fire or something. Forgive me, I know little to nothing about electrical circuits. I tried flipping the breaker panel and it didn't help.
Thanks for the suggestions or ideas. I have unplugged everything on both walls until I can figure this out and make sure it is safe. The other side of the longest wall backs up to my daughter's bedroom so I'm not taking any chances.
8
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:38 pm to cfa626
You have a wiring problem. You have two nuetrals and no hot running in the long wall. Should be simple to fix. I don't think it's hazardous. Just keep something plugged in there until someone can get to you. Does it work when the lamp is off or only on?
This post was edited on 8/18/16 at 9:41 pm
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:40 pm to skidry
Lamp can be on or off. Never had this problem before, any idea what could've caused it?
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:41 pm to cfa626
So it's a recent development? Then I'm not sure what's happening. There is a tester you can buy that looks kind of like a sharpie marker. It has a light that comes on when power is present. You can stick it in there. Start mapping out where you have power and where you don't. Should be able to trace it back to the problem
This post was edited on 8/18/16 at 9:43 pm
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:41 pm to cfa626
Sounds like the plug on the long wall is being fed by the outlet on the short wall. You probably have a loose connection at the outlet on the short wall.
That is just an initial guess, it could be a few different things as well.
Do you have an outlet tester or volt meter?
If you have any electrical skills it should be a pretty quick and easy fix. As far as safety, loose connections are not good, but if nothing is plugged in, you should be good until you can have someone with knowledge look at it.
That is just an initial guess, it could be a few different things as well.
Do you have an outlet tester or volt meter?
If you have any electrical skills it should be a pretty quick and easy fix. As far as safety, loose connections are not good, but if nothing is plugged in, you should be good until you can have someone with knowledge look at it.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:46 pm to skidry
quote:
ou have a wiring problem. You have two nuetrals and no hot running in the long wall. Should be simple to fix. I don't think it's hazardous. Just keep something plugged in there until someone can get to you. Does it work when the lamp is off or only on?
Agreed... except a f'd up neutral connection can and will burn your house down... depending on the situation and what's on the circuit.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:46 pm to cfa626
Probably a loose wire on the outlet and when you plug something in it makes somewhat of a connection ....
If you know what breaker it is turn the circuit off and take the outlet (small wall ) out and check the connections .
If you know what breaker it is turn the circuit off and take the outlet (small wall ) out and check the connections .
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:49 pm to cfa626
I'd start by killing the breaker to that circuit, pulling the receptacle out of the short wall and seeing if any wiring looks abnormal in there. If not, and a black and white wire come in to the receptacle box and leave the receptacle box, take the receptacle out of the equation and just wire nut the blacks together and whites together and see if the other receptacles work when you close the breaker.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:50 pm to cfa626
Is it a newer house , do they have arc fault receptacles installed or is it old receptacles .
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:50 pm to cfa626
Is the "shortest wall" closer to your panelboard than the "longest wall"? Find out which receptacles/plugs on the same circuit breaker and see if the same applies to any other receptacles.
I'm assuming this hasn't always been an issue? You're not in a new house or just recently had work done, right? It doesn't make sense, but what you're describing sounds like one receptacle being in series with the rest of the circuit instead of parallel. Doubt it though.
I'm assuming this hasn't always been an issue? You're not in a new house or just recently had work done, right? It doesn't make sense, but what you're describing sounds like one receptacle being in series with the rest of the circuit instead of parallel. Doubt it though.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:52 pm to STBTigerr
quote:
I'd start by killing the breaker to that circuit, pulling the receptacle out of the short wall and seeing if any wiring looks abnormal in there. If not, and a black and white wire come in to the receptacle box and leave the receptacle box, take the receptacle out of the equation and just wire nut the blacks together and whites together and see if the other receptacles work when you close the breaker.
I agree , every outlet should be pig tailed and not feeding through the outlet ....
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:53 pm to cfa626
I am no electrician, but I have found that some crazy shite like that can happen due to an outlet with a ground fault circuit interrupter being tripped somewhere. go around to all of the GFCI outlets that you know about and test/reset them. make sure there aren't any that you are missing somewhere like the garage, etc.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:55 pm to THRILLHO
It's most likely a loose wire on the short wall outlet .....
Turn the breaker off to that circuit and pull the outlet out and check the connections..,
Turn the breaker off to that circuit and pull the outlet out and check the connections..,
This post was edited on 8/18/16 at 9:58 pm
Posted on 8/18/16 at 9:58 pm to tigerswin03
quote:
It's most likely a loose wire on the short wall outlet .....
This or broken wire would be my guess, especially if the quick stabs are used.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:25 pm to cfa626
as others have said, it sounds like a receptacle issue. this could be dangerous if you run a heavyish load on the circuit. reason being it sounds like a loose wire or connection in the receptacle. Loose connections can get hot and start fires.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:34 pm to Chuker
I'm not an electrician, so "loose wiring" is very well the issue, but I don't understand how plugging something into the receptacle would solve a loose wire issue. I started thinking about how that receptacle using the neutral as a ground for the receptacle could possibly cause this to happen, but I don't know of any newer homes using that wiring setup, and I still couldn't put together how it would quite work out.
I dunno. I'm a green EE, so I'd be happy to find out the cause. For learning and knowing.
I dunno. I'm a green EE, so I'd be happy to find out the cause. For learning and knowing.
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