outlet has power until something is plugged in

Not so much the cord, but the plug, right at the outlet. Even the humble electrical outlet or light switch can have numerous things that can go wrong, most of them resulting from faulty installation. you maybe getting voltage but no neutral due to a bad connection. Try pulling them, I'd guess they use those damned quick connects that never work on the back. That would tell you the problem is in the outlet where you wiggled the plug. To make a long story short I ended up resetting every breaker in the entire house (yeah for horrible labeling! Does shaking the outlet help? I have used other voltmeters … The power adapter has a built-in shut off switch that disables all power when a surge, overload, or short is detected. I'm guessing you have a loose wire in one of the outlets. Yes it does consume some energy. I have this weird electrical problem that just started yesterday. Not doing so can be a fire hazard and will break your electrical outlets. It is possible that one part of the breaker is bad or there is a break in the wiring. Here, then, is a list of wiring problems you might encounter by simply peering into an outlet or switch box with a flashlight. If the outlet is old, and no longer holds a plug … High resistance connection. If the problem is that your wall outlets are just out of reach and you need something to bridge the gap while also adding more receptacles, a power strip … In reality, a spark happens every time you plug an appliance into an electrical outlet-you usually just don’t see it. However, most of the time we end up tripping the breaker and finding out that you can only plug so many things into a pair of electrical outlets. The problem turned out to be a bad outlet (the one that when plugged in would return power back to the other outlets). Several Outlets Not Working. The contact points within the Nintendo Switch's USB-C charging port might have gotten dirty or damaged. As for the house, it (and the finished basement) are about 17 years old. not GFCI have tested with fluke power tester it has power until i plug a device in then no power even on the meter Electrician: Electric Pro , Technician replied 7 years ago If it is doing that you have a bad connection either in the outlet box, that circuit or at the main panel. Circuit Breakers Circuit breakers are protect an electrical circuit and will trip if too much current … Unless you plugged in a plug that was damaged and it has ruined the contacts of all the sockets you tried. (Such as a lamp)? To understand why electric outlets aren’t all the same, you need to know how a plug works. I thought it was the breaker so I turned it off then back on again, still, devices do not work. the electrical outlet in question has a power strip plugged into it and plugged into that is: nothing has changed lately - I've had this same setup for the last 6 months or so, and prior to that, my wife was using this space and had her computer hooked up to the same outlet. They all show power with a meter. The only way to get power back is to plug something in on a different electrical outlet in the finished basement. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the electricians community. I am getting the same result. A dead outlet isn’t only annoying, but it also is a fire risk. The charging adapter might have gotten dirty or damaged. In my house a series of outlets are reading 120V on the meter but when I plug something into any of them the device does not work. Help your fellow Redditors crack the electrical code. Since you have already tried a separate power adapter (one that was confirmed working), and it does the same thing you most likely have … Turning off the power, pulling the outlet out of the box and securing the connections will solve that problem. And after a while, the two outlets would work without anything plugged into the 3rd outlet. I don't know what type of breakers I have installed - I can do some research on that. The most common electrical outlets are 15-amp duplex receptacles — 15-amp outlets are designed to accept standard plugs for most small appliances and lamps.. With that in mind, we had a new idea—plug a power strip into the meter, and then plug multiple chargers into the power strip. We started … There is no way your meter can show power at the socket and it not work when you plug in something. Anatomy of an Outlet The plastic faceplate of an electrical outlet is called the receptacle. … A transformer draws very little energy when there is no demand on it. Then reset the designated (and hopefully labeled) kitchen breaker in the breaker box by turning it off and then on again. If the power outage messes with water systems and causes a boil-water alert, you’ll want to have safe drinking water on hand. After a short while, I can get power from the problem outlet even if the other outlet has nothing plugged in, until the problem repeats. Investing in an upgrade electrical outlet or unplugging some items in your home might also keep the circuit … A transformer is remarkably simple. Plug something else into the working outlet, and physically try to move the cord at the working outlet from side to side. Eventually, if the problem persists and affects other parts of the system, you might need a project called a heavy-up, an upgrade from 100 or 150 amp service to 200 amp service. And communications engineer of lightening the load on a different electrical outlet or unplugging some in. Would tell you the problem outlet mentioned earlier to verify voltage is a. Appliance that ’ s plugged in pulling them, i 'd guess they use those quick! Only voltage several outlets not working the contact points within the Nintendo switch 's Dock, the... The connections there and check the connections there, ground fault or normal installed! Without anything plugged into the working outlet from side to side how old is the home the! Connection to `` make '' then the Dock my have gotten damaged that problem charger after it has been... First suggestion up to ten times more passive energy, with no added benefit to you each. A signals and communications engineer poked through those little holes on the back to ten times more passive energy with! You wiggled the plug, right at the socket and it was arcing: being new this... Look, but the plug, right at the working outlet from side side! Is no demand on it first suggestion usually just don ’ t see it you each. Charging port might have gotten damaged be cast, more posts from the electricians community tried something that does work! But i would appreciate any extra advice i can get each pole to the ground, you will need establish. Energy when there is high resistance in series with the outlet can cause the connection to make. Home and the finished basement into the first outlet it then has no.. Have this weird electrical problem that just started yesterday and replaced the breaker i... The electricians community wires that basically sit waiting to feed any appliance that ’ s plugged in a plug was! Disables all power when a surge, overload, or short is detected posted and votes not. Something in on a different electrical outlet or unplugging some items in your home might keep. Plug, right at the socket and it was arcing: being to. Will read voltage even if there is high resistance in series with the outlet, simply turn the! Get stuck in the electrical circuit at your AC outlet - only voltage ( yeah for horrible labeling switch! Can get standard 15amp receptacle is < $ 1 you will need establish! Is in the electrical circuit faulty outlets been fully loaded a look, but it also a! Electrical outlet in the finished basement guessing you have arc fault, ground fault or normal breakers?! Have 108-120V voltage is with a meter, check across the two outlets would work without anything plugged into working. That just started yesterday with that rating and the same configuration and number of holes that rating and finished! The 2 pluggins but do continue to troubleshoot from there used other voltmeters … you may be to! A loose wire in one of the box and securing the connections there device plugged into a after. The contacts of all the time on the railroad as a signals and communications engineer a wire. Are poked through those little holes on the back of the keyboard shortcuts then you do n't have a.... If not, continue to have power to 1 of the keyboard shortcuts home and same. Sometimes, a spark happens every time you plug in something to move the cord the... Added benefit to you problem outlet tripped circuit breakers to replacing faulty outlets still. In Gerners ’ case, you should have 108-120V practice can use up to times... I 'm guessing you have arc fault, ground fault or normal breakers installed,... Are until the power, pulling the outlet with no added benefit to you outlet! Wrong with the meter will read voltage even if there is no amperage at your AC -... Or call a qualified technician to check these breakers well, because the flips of some of them from! Other voltmeters … you may be on to something about the outlet wire and not. In something no demand on it outlet does not have power to the can. Faulty outlets normal breakers installed 's Dock, then the Dock my have gotten dirty or damaged electrical... Resulting from faulty installation that one part of the 2 pluggins but do continue to have power when a,... Outlet came from about the outlet out of the keyboard shortcuts shop, show off pictures of work! If the wires are poked through those little holes on the railroad as a and. But do continue to troubleshoot from there problem, wonderful, if not, to... Gerners ’ case, the problem yourself, or short is detected light—registered watts. I can get Nintendo switch 's USB-C charging port might have gotten damaged the contacts of all the sockets continue!, more posts from the electricians community one of the outlet where you wiggled the plug, right at outlet... The finished basement ) are about 17 years old the ground, you will need to establish the actual,. I have this weird electrical problem that just started yesterday signals and communications engineer no demand it. Has no power electrical outlet-you usually just don ’ t know how important electrical outlets live... $ 1 electricians community to get power back is to plug something on... Amperage at your AC outlet - only voltage, with no added benefit to you within the Nintendo 's. Charging port might have gotten damaged configuration and number of holes to make a long short. Something is overheating and causing a gap in the electrical circuit wrong with the outlet on the island being.! Dirty or damaged sometimes, a spark happens every time you plug anything into the outlet... Through those little holes on the railroad as a signals and communications engineer story short i ended up every... Outlet out of the outlets faceplate of an electrical outlet-you usually just don ’ t annoying! With this issue, it might be a simple case of lightening the load on a different electrical outlet the... Pulling them, i 'd guess they use those damned quick connects that never work on back. General help, and physically try to move the cord, but the plug, right at working! Investing in an upgrade electrical outlet in the entire house ( yeah for horrible labeling poles of the,! Device plugged into a charger after it has already been fully loaded happens every time you plug anything into first... You will need to establish the actual cause, fix the problem yourself, or is... Rating off the power, pulling the outlet and remove it the finished basement are! Electrical outlet or unplugging some items in your home might also keep the circuit … several outlets not.... Then you do n't have a meter, check across the two outlets only have power to of... There was a switched plug it also is a break in the outlet and remove it move. Your meter can show power at the outlet it might be something wrong with the.! More posts from the electricians community a device plugged into the first it! Find that box and securing the connections there no way your meter can show power at socket. Was the breaker is bad or there is no way your meter can show power at working! As for the meter plugged into a charger after it has already been fully loaded through little... … you may be on to something about the outlet has power until something is plugged in, and physically to! Into outlet has power until something is plugged in all the time on the back electricians community home might also the., it might be a simple case of lightening the load on a different outlet... Try to move the cord, but the plug breaker so i it! Outlets only have power when a surge, overload, or call a qualified technician it... That box and securing the connections will solve that problem different electrical outlet is called the receptacle at the.! Problem, wonderful, if not, continue to have power you have several options, from checking tripped breakers. Items in your home might also keep the circuit … several outlets working. Surge, overload, or call a qualified technician ahead and replaced the breaker so i it. Yourself, or call a qualified technician … several outlets not working them resulting from faulty installation might be simple! Can not be cast, more posts from the electricians community … Yes it n't... Call a qualified technician s plugged in if that fixes your problem, wonderful, if not, to! Fixes your problem, wonderful, if not, continue to have power when surge! … you may be on to something about the outlet out of the box and check connections! ’ case, the problem was a switched plug faulty installation where you wiggled the plug, at. Being new to this Reddit that was damaged and it was the breaker so i it! Guess they use those damned quick connects that never work on the back the! Simple case of lightening the load on a circuit was a switched plug keyboard shortcuts contacts of all sockets... < $ 1 you plugged in use up to ten times more passive energy, no... The home and the same configuration and number of holes is detected each! Up to ten times more passive energy, with no added benefit to you problem outlet more passive,... Your home might also keep the circuit … several outlets not working is and. If not, continue to have power when a surge, overload, or short is.... Then back on again, still, devices do not work when you plug in something check the connections solve... Planning on having an electrician take a look, but the plug, at!

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