Electrical Wall Outlet Dead

[Rockslinger]

I did something really stupid tonight. I tried unsuccessfully to unplug my plugin CO detector from the wall outlet by hand. So I slipped a SCREWDRIVER between the CO detector plug and the wall receptacle. There was a brief bright flash and the CO detector popped out.

The problem is that there is no longer any power going to the receptacle. No, I did not trip the circuit breaker and the CO detector is still working. So, I changed the receptacle, but still no power. Then, I connected the black wire and the white wire to an electrical current tester, nothing. Why is there no power to the new receptacle?

 

[hairyfucker]

Electrical Wall Outlet Remover Dead

just be happy you are not typing

"Electrical Wall Outlet Remover Dead"

whenever someone starts a electrical problem with "I did something really stupid tonight..." I tend to tense up.

 

[papasmerf]

Your circuit breaker is fried and needs to be changed.


Yes I know you said it did not pop. Take the cover off the breaker box and verify the breaker is functional.

Another possibility is the outlet is coming off a GCFI outlet.

 

[Ref]

Hehehehe, pretty close to a Darwin award.

Wouldn't a battery operated one be a better option in the event of a power outage?

 

[Rockslinger]

whenever someone starts a electrical problem with "I did something really stupid tonight..." I tend to tense up.

Thank goodness, the Rockman is alive and the CO detector is also alive but there is no power in the black and white wires connecting to the new receptacle.

 

[Rockslinger]

Your circuit breaker is fried and needs to be changed. Yes I know you said it did not pop. Take the cover off the breaker box and verify the breaker is functional.

The circuit breaker seems to be ok. I turned it off and on several times. Also, the other lights on that circuit are working fine.

Another possibility is the outlet is coming off a GCFI outlet.

Sorry, what is a "GCFI outlet".

 

[Rockslinger]

Just replace the receptacle, just cut the burnt length off there should be enough left for the new receptacle.

Yes, I did install a new receptable but there is no juice in the black and white wires coming out of the wall according to my tester. Maybe, I will cut off the ends of the wires to get a fresh contact.

 

[Rockslinger]

Wouldn't a battery operated one be a better option in the event of a power outage?

I bought a new CO detector with battery backup. The plan was to remove the old CO detector and plug in the new one. But, the old detector was plugged so tightly that I couldn't remove it by hand so I grabbed the screwdriver. You know the rest of the sad tale. (The old detector is still working in a new wall outlet.)

 

[papasmerf]

The circuit breaker seems to be ok. I turned it off and on several times. Also, the other lights on that circuit are working fine.


Sorry, what is a "GCFI outlet".

it is a ground fault outlet with a reset

 

[papasmerf]

The circuit breaker seems to be ok. I turned it off and on several times. Also, the other lights on that circuit are working fine.


Sorry, what is a "GCFI outlet".

you need to put a meter on the breaker to verify it works.

Forget what you see and check it with a meter.

 

[Rockslinger]

you need to put a meter on the breaker to verify it works.

This is getting complicated. What kind of meter tests a circuit breaker? Would it be simpler to just replace the breaker? It is two single 15Amps joined together.

 

[papasmerf]

This is getting complicated. What kind of meter tests a circuit breaker? Would it be simpler to just replace the breaker? It is two single 15Amps joined together.

You can do that. Just be sure to get the exact same breaker.


BTW you use a VOM or a bounce meter to check voltage in your house.

 

[tboy]

first of all:

STOP and call someone who knows what they're doing.

Sorry Rock, but anyone who uses a screwdriver to remove a plug in appliance shouldn't be messing around with electrical. You could kill yourself.

BUT if you insist, the reason you don't have any current at the wires could be that you burned them out or broke them somewhere between the bare ends, and the circuit breaker.

GFI: stands for GOOD FUCKING IDEA lol (or more realistically ground fault interrupter which means you won't die if you get the outlet, or something plugged into it, wet). Check all the outlets on the circuit (not the lights, they wouldn't be GFI protected). One might have a couple of extra buttons on the face.

I'd also get a circuit tester (10 bucks at home depot) that chirps when there's current present. Go to every outlet on the circuit and check each one.

 

[SpaClient]

This is getting complicated. What kind of meter tests a circuit breaker? Would it be simpler to just replace the breaker? It is two single 15Amps joined together.

Just to be clear, how are the two single breakers joined together? If there is a little bar or something that causes both breakers to trip at the same time you may be dealing with a 2 phase circuit - which would be a little odd for a regular recepticle. Perhaps a professional (electrician not escort) might be in order. Seriously, get some help.

 

[papasmerf]

Just to be clear, how are the two single breakers joined together? If there is a little bar or something that causes both breakers to trip at the same time you may be dealing with a 2 phase circuit - which would be a little odd for a regular recepticle. Perhaps a professional (electrician not escort) might be in order. Seriously, get some help.

It is called a half height breaker.

Each operates independently

 

[Anynym]

Just how is it that you "know" that other things on the same circuit are still working? Let me rephrase that: how is it that you "know" that other things that are still working are on the same circuit?

Get a professional in these matters to help you out. It could save your life.

But it does sound as if it's another circuit which has been tripped, than the one you've reset several times now.

 

[nottyboi]

are you sure both plugs on the outlet are on the same braker? Did you test both plugs?

 

[WoodPeckr]

If you don't have a test meter or know how to replace an electrical receptacle, get some one who does.

 

[HAMSTER INSPECTOR]

Check these thing in this order.

- Electrical wall recipticle.

- Connection in wall for electrical recepticle.

- Electrical breaker at main breaker box.

- Connection inside main breaker box for the circuit.

I suspect you have fried a wire when you sent a surge of power through it. If you are lucky the break in the fried wire is at the recptical end, or the breaker end. If it is not then the break is somewhere inside the wall. This would be a fire hazzard. An electician that has the right electronic equipment can trace the break.

Quick note.


There are fools out there in every profession. There are many electricians that were trained many years ago and have not kept up with new technologly. If you call an electrician to repair this problem, ask him if he has the equipment to trace a break in the electrical wire. He will need a device that plugs into the wall outlet and a second device to move along the wall within 4 to 6 inches of the wire to detect a signal. When the device goes pass the point in the break in the wire the device will stop detecting the signal and you will know where the break is. The difference between a guy ith the right equipment that knows what he is doing and a person that is an old hacker is that you will only cost you a few hours in electricians fees and small repairs to one spot in our wall or the hacker might hack into a wall guessing where the break might be. You might end up with 4 or 5 holes in 2 or more rooms and a double the amount of hours that he will charge you and then you will have to repair the holes in several roomans and repaint. That is if he does not hack your base boards up.

 

[GDLLover]

it is a ground fault outlet with a reset

Since it sounds like your not sure what this GFI outlet is, check your bathroom, kitchen & laundry room for outlets that have 2 little push buttons between each plug in. One will be Test the other Reset. Make sure the reset is pushed in.