Svtp electricians

[black4vcobra]

I am in need of a bit of advice from someone familiar with residential wiring.

I bought a house 2.5 years ago that has a finished basement and just recently, 4 of the basement outlets stopped working. This is the 3rd time it has happened and the last 2 times the outlets "magically" fixed themselves within a couple days.

Using my multimeter I have determined there is 120 volts on the wires at one outlet and 0 at the next one on the wall. All connections appear solid but I haven't yet disconnected and reconnected the wire at those outlets

I know this is likely a bad connection at one of the outlets or at a splice in the wall but I could use someone who is familiar with residential wiring to talk this over with.

Thanks in advance

 

[RedRocketMike]

make a cord with a male plug on each end, plug into both outlets, report back.

 

[03cobra#694]

More than likely a loose connection. Pop the breaker and Check the connections.

 

[MG0h3]

Not a pro but when doing some light remodeling I upgraded some outlets. What I found was a set of hot wires to one outlet and the others were fed off that one. You might see a second set of wires leaving that outlet to feed the others. In my case a bad outlet stopped feeding the others downstream.


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[SolarYellow]

Check where the outlets connect with each other in the junction box or whatever it is called. The wires could be barely connected or not at all.

 

[black4vcobra]

Outlet with power. Only 1 romex wire into it

 

[black4vcobra]

Outlet without power on the other side of the wall. The next 3 to the right do not have power. My fear is that a splice in the wall came loose

 

[BRNG ITT]

Can you get a closer shot of the receptacle? Not liking how it looks.

 

[BRNG ITT]

Your multimeter should be able to reach both sides of that half wall. Makes sure breaker is open. Do a continuity check (ohms) from line to line and nuetral to nuetral between the two outlets.

 

[Buckwheat 1]

Do you have a dropped ceiling? Look for junction boxes above. Check splice
in switch boxes also as the power may originate there before hitting the outlets. Check connections at panel breaker and neutral(white) wire.

 

[Buckwheat 1]

DIY's also may put screws in, tighten metal clamps to tight or put staples thrue wires.

 

[blk02edge]

make a cord with a male plug on each end, plug into both outlets, report back.

That'll be entertaining on the off chance they're on opposite phases.

Op are you testing with meter leads inside socket or on the silver/brass screws on the side of the plug? Should be ZERO splices inside the wall (illegal and if it causes fire your insurance can be void)

I've seen it a million times where the plug itself is just worn out

 

[beau t]

not sure if they still do it, by any chance are the outlets on a switch that is shut off, would explain how they mysteriously came back on for you a while back.

 

[capnkirk52]

Your multimeter should be able to reach both sides of that half wall. Makes sure breaker is open. Do a continuity check (ohms) from line to line and nuetral to nuetral between the two outlets.

Make sure there is zero power going to wherever you're testing before doing this.

 

[MG0h3]

not sure if they still do it, by any chance are the outlets on a switch that is shut off, would explain how they mysteriously came back on for you a while back.

ha! Didn't think of that.

 

[black4vcobra]

Closeups of both

 

[black4vcobra]

Stumped....

 

[P49Y-CY]

Curious what is inside those two adjacent junction boxes. Shut off power to the circuit first.

I would also redo the hot and neutral to the outlet in that last pic (edit: in post #16) - installer left way too much conductor showing.

 

[black4vcobra]

not sure if they still do it, by any chance are the outlets on a switch that is shut off, would explain how they mysteriously came back on for you a while back.

Good idea but I don't think that is the case here. It's Only happened 3 times in 2.5 years, I' d think I would have noticed it way more often if it was a a switched outlet.

Also, My experience with switched outlets is that only 1 of the receptacles is switched and the other isn't. That was on a much older home than mine which was built in 2001

 

[black4vcobra]

Your multimeter should be able to reach both sides of that half wall. Makes sure breaker is open. Do a continuity check (ohms) from line to line and nuetral to nuetral between the two outlets.

It Seems as if there is an open between each of the hot, neutral and ground wires. It is a stretch to reach and read the meter though and the wife is in no mood to help tonight