The Conservative Cave
Interests => Around the House & In the Garage => Topic started by: ChuckJ on March 22, 2012, 08:10:32 AM
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I'm having an electrical issues that I think is related to a particular outlet. The outlet does not work, but I don't know if the outlet is the problem or if it's the line going to the outlet. Is there a way to check if the outlet is the problem with a multimeter WITHOUT removing the outlet?
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I'm having an electrical issues that I think is related to a particular outlet. The outlet does not work, but I don't know if the outlet is the problem or if it's the line going to the outlet. Is there a way to check if the outlet is the problem with a multimeter WITHOUT removing the outlet?
Not really.
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You can buy an outlet tester:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=outlet+tester&x=0&y=0
But plugging something in works just as well.
It's probably the power running to the outlet on that circuit I would imagine.
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I'm having an electrical issues that I think is related to a particular outlet. The outlet does not work, but I don't know if the outlet is the problem or if it's the line going to the outlet. Is there a way to check if the outlet is the problem with a multimeter WITHOUT removing the outlet?
Take the outlet cover off and check for voltage on the contacts if there isn't any it's in the line. If there is, it's the outlet.
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Get an outlet tester. Anywhere between $10-15.
(http://www.outlettester.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/outlet-tester.jpg)
While it's not always perfect, the conditions under which it gives "bogus" indications are pretty rare.
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I'm having an electrical issues that I think is related to a particular outlet. The outlet does not work, but I don't know if the outlet is the problem or if it's the line going to the outlet. Is there a way to check if the outlet is the problem with a multimeter WITHOUT removing the outlet?
Actually yes......take the cover off of the outlet, and set your multimeter to AC Volts, select a range to measure that is higher than 100 V.
Place the ground probe (black) on the screwhead on the side of the outlet that has the white wire connected to it, and place the red probe on the opposite side of the recepticle contacting the screw with the black wire connected to it......your meter should read in excess of 110 VAC. If you get no reading place the probes carefully on the wires connected to each recepticle screw......if you still get no voltage reading, the circuit is dead. Most likely a bad circuit breaker (although rare.....they DO fail).
If there is voltage present at the screws (or wires), but the outlet still doesn't work, you have simply a bad recepticle.......once the breaker is identified, and the power to it has been shut off, they are simple to replace.
doc
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Just lick your fingers and......
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Actually yes......take the cover off of the outlet, and set your multimeter to AC Volts, select a range to measure that is higher than 100 V.
Place the ground probe (black) on the screwhead on the side of the outlet that has the white wire connected to it, and place the red probe on the opposite side of the recepticle contacting the screw with the black wire connected to it......your meter should read in excess of 110 VAC. If you get no reading place the probes carefully on the wires connected to each recepticle screw......if you still get no voltage reading, the circuit is dead. Most likely a bad circuit breaker (although rare.....they DO fail).
If there is voltage present at the screws (or wires), but the outlet still doesn't work, you have simply a bad recepticle.......once the breaker is identified, and the power to it has been shut off, they are simple to replace.
doc
Aww come on doc. Only pussies shut off the breaker before replacing an outlet or light switch.
:fuelfire:
I'm a *****.
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I'd just use the same voltage detector "pen" that I use for finding live wires inside walls.
Wave it around where the switch on the outlet is and it should detect voltage even if the outlet is off.
You could probably even use one of the Auto Electrical jobs that cost peanuts from the local Auto-Cheap-O store.
That'll tell you if there's current at the outlet.
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Actually yes......take the cover off of the outlet, and set your multimeter to AC Volts, select a range to measure that is higher than 100 V.
Place the ground probe (black) on the screw-head on the side of the outlet that has the white wire connected to it, and place the red probe on the opposite side of the receptacle contacting the screw with the black wire connected to it......your meter should read in excess of 110 VAC. If you get no reading place the probes carefully on the wires connected to each receptacle screw......if you still get no voltage reading, the circuit is dead. Most likely a bad circuit breaker (although rare.....they DO fail).
If there is voltage present at the screws (or wires), but the outlet still doesn't work, you have simply a bad receptacle.......once the breaker is identified, and the power to it has been shut off, they are simple to replace.
doc
This is the correct method.
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Just lick your fingers and......
"Come here boy! Stick this fork in that wall socket there and Lets see what happens"
That's good for a one time test...two or more if he's a future democrat.
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If you don't have an outlet tester plug something in an different outlet along the same wall if it works your culprit is a bad outlet.