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Posted by Jeff Wisnia on August 16, 2005, 10:09 am
Joseph Meehan wrote:
> MJR wrote:
>
>>symptoms
>>1. garage lights won't turn on
>>2. garage door opener won't go up/down
>>3. when light switch is off, garage opener sensors light up
>>4. when light switch is on (lights don't go on), sensors go off
>>5. Voltage tester shows 104 volts in all outlets in garage
>>
>>
>>what should I do (besides calling an electrician)?
>>
>>the problem began soon after the first rains in 6 weeks
>>
>>the power to the garage is underground conduit from the house, under
>>the yard to the garage.
>
>
> For the moment, let's ignore that 104 Volts as I believe it is a red
> herring.
>
> Go check the circuit breakers, Is one tripped? I suspect not. Now
> check out all your GFIs. One or more of them should be protecting your
> garage. They may be in the garage, kitchen bath or breaker box. It the
> test and reset button on each one.
>
> If that gets you power, the 104V you found was only a very low amp
> induced current and you never would have been able to measure it without
> that digital meter you used.
>
>
Joseph, I'm usually in agreement with you, but if there's enough current
to light up the opener sensors I doubt that it's being provided by
induced or capacitively coupled current. But, maybe if they are
extremely low current devices there is a possibility of that happening.
Nothing to be lost by following the steps you describe, they are
certainly the simplest thing to start with, but I'll still put my money
on a high resistance joint somewhere.
That's assuming the OP's description and our understanding of what he
means are correct, something that isn't always true on this newsgroup. <G>
Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."
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