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GFI Receptacle Question FLHTPI 06-17-2006
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Posted by FLHTPI on June 17, 2006, 3:18 pm

The GFI receptacle in my downstairs bathroom doesn't seem to work. I
can't get the Test button to move. I opened up the box, and
disconnected it.

I put my circuit tester up to the black and white wires, and there's
no juice.

Then, I put one leg of the tester on the hot (black) side, and the
other side right to the box. Lo and behold, there's power.

I can't believe that I've lost my ground, but can't seem to understand
why the tester doesn't indicate power when I put it across the white
and black wires.

My guess is that the GFI receptacle is probably fine.

Helpful input is, as always, gratefully appreciated.

Real Goods Solar, Inc.
Posted by RBM on June 17, 2006, 3:33 pm
You haven't lost your ground, you've lost your neutral


>
> The GFI receptacle in my downstairs bathroom doesn't seem to work. I
> can't get the Test button to move. I opened up the box, and
> disconnected it.
>
> I put my circuit tester up to the black and white wires, and there's
> no juice.
>
> Then, I put one leg of the tester on the hot (black) side, and the
> other side right to the box. Lo and behold, there's power.
>
> I can't believe that I've lost my ground, but can't seem to understand
> why the tester doesn't indicate power when I put it across the white
> and black wires.
>
> My guess is that the GFI receptacle is probably fine.
>
> Helpful input is, as always, gratefully appreciated.



Posted by Joseph Meehan on June 17, 2006, 3:56 pm
FLHTPI wrote:
> The GFI receptacle in my downstairs bathroom doesn't seem to work. I
> can't get the Test button to move. I opened up the box, and
> disconnected it.
>
> I put my circuit tester up to the black and white wires, and there's
> no juice.
>
> Then, I put one leg of the tester on the hot (black) side, and the
> other side right to the box. Lo and behold, there's power.
>
> I can't believe that I've lost my ground, but can't seem to understand
> why the tester doesn't indicate power when I put it across the white
> and black wires.
>
> My guess is that the GFI receptacle is probably fine.
>
> Helpful input is, as always, gratefully appreciated.

It sounds like you have lost the neutral (white) line somewhere up
stream from that device.

There is also another possibility. What kind of circuit tester are
your using? A modern digital meter?

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit



Posted by FLHTPI on June 17, 2006, 5:41 pm
On Sat, 17 Jun 2006 19:56:08 GMT, "Joseph Meehan"

>FLHTPI wrote:
>> The GFI receptacle in my downstairs bathroom doesn't seem to work. I
>> can't get the Test button to move. I opened up the box, and
>> disconnected it.
>>
>> I put my circuit tester up to the black and white wires, and there's
>> no juice.
>>
>> Then, I put one leg of the tester on the hot (black) side, and the
>> other side right to the box. Lo and behold, there's power.
>>
>> I can't believe that I've lost my ground, but can't seem to understand
>> why the tester doesn't indicate power when I put it across the white
>> and black wires.
>>
>> My guess is that the GFI receptacle is probably fine.
>>
>> Helpful input is, as always, gratefully appreciated.
>
> It sounds like you have lost the neutral (white) line somewhere up
>stream from that device.
>
> There is also another possibility. What kind of circuit tester are
>your using? A modern digital meter?

Circuit tster: It's just two leads with a light bulb.
...Lost my neutral...not sure what that means or what to do...

Posted by Noozer on June 17, 2006, 5:46 pm
>>> The GFI receptacle in my downstairs bathroom doesn't seem to work. I
>>> can't get the Test button to move. I opened up the box, and
>>> disconnected it.
>>>
>>> I put my circuit tester up to the black and white wires, and there's
>>> no juice.
>>>
>>> Then, I put one leg of the tester on the hot (black) side, and the
>>> other side right to the box. Lo and behold, there's power.

> Circuit tster: It's just two leads with a light bulb.
> ...Lost my neutral...not sure what that means or what to do...

The white wire is "neutral", the bare wire (which is connected to the metal
box) is the ground.

Since the bulb lights when connected to the box and black, you have a good
hot lead and a good ground lead. It's the neutral (white) wire that is
having issues.

Does this white wire go to a wirenut inside the box, or to a switch/etc?
Make sure the connection there is good. If it's still not working you need
to find out what other fixtures/outlets are connected to the circuit and
check the white wires at those points. It sounds very much like the white
wire has come loose someplace.



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