[SOLVED] Garage Wall Outlets are not Working

**tosh9i** · 11-25-2008, 12:28 PM

Last week, the wall outlets in the garage were working fine. Between that time and today, it appears that they have stopped working. There have been no major storms in the area, just some rain. I haven't noticed any lightning. The rest of the house seems fine.

I tired switching the circuit breaker off for the entire house, but it didn't make a difference.

Do I need to call an electrician, or is this something I can handle with ease?

Tumbleweed36 · 11-25-2008, 01:11 PM

You need to look for either a fuse or a circuit breaker for just the garage area. It is likely you just had a breaker trip.

**simpswr** · 11-25-2008, 01:24 PM

also, ..many local codes require that garage outlets be Ground Fault protected . . look at all the ouitlets to see if one of them has a ground fault interrupter that has tripped.

**tosh9i** · 11-25-2008, 01:25 PM

Do you mean that the garage's circuit breaker isn't located in the "main circuit breaker box"

**tosh9i** · 11-25-2008, 01:27 PM

How do I tell if the ground fault interrupter has been tripped. I should note that I pushed the test and reset button without knowing what I was doing.

**tosh9i** · 11-25-2008, 01:33 PM

Okay, it's working now. I pressed the Reset button and it was working, then I hit the Test button, and it stopped working. So, I just hit the Reset button again and left it like that. And now it's working.

Is this bad? Did something happen with the ground fault interrupter?

**simpswr** · 11-25-2008, 04:03 PM

Probably not . . by nature they are sensitive . . may just hqave been a power outaqe/surge. If it keeps happening, I'd replace it

**tosh9i** · 11-25-2008, 04:37 PM

Well, thanks for the help simpswr and Tumbleweed36.

Tumbleweed36 · 11-25-2008, 06:11 PM

You are most welcome and it sounds like you are good to go. Some times there is a spike and they will trip because they are sensitive. I would not worry about it unless it trips regularly and if it does that, you either have a bad breaker or a place in the line that needs attention.

**SABL** · 11-25-2008, 10:40 PM

Generally it is recommended to test your GFCI on a monthly basis..... that's why it has the test button.

If the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) fails to trip when the test button is pushed, it is time to replace it. If it trips too often when in use, check whatever you are plugging into the circuit. Make sure the tool or extension cord is not at fault.

If at any time the GFCI needs replaced, do exactly that and NEVER bypass it or install a standard outlet in it's place. In earlier days the GFCI was in the form of a circuit breaker in the main panel....same story goes for that scenario.... replace it with a similar device with the same amperage rating.

I'm only adding this little bit of info because I know of 2 people who paid the ultimate price for using tools on an "unprotected" circuit.

Be safe....some building codes are actually good for you.
SABL

**simpswr** · 11-26-2008, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tosh9i

Well, thanks for the help simpswr and Tumbleweed36.

You are welcome!!!

11-25-2008, 12:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,811 OS: Windows XP	[SOLVED] Garage Wall Outlets are not Working Last week, the wall outlets in the garage were working fine. Between that time and today, it appears that they have stopped working. There have been no major storms in the area, just some rain. I haven't noticed any lightning. The rest of the house seems fine. I tired switching the circuit breaker off for the entire house, but it didn't make a difference. Do I need to call an electrician, or is this something I can handle with ease? __________________ Tosh

11-25-2008, 01:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,478 OS: XP Professional	Re: Garage Wall Outlets are not Working You need to look for either a fuse or a circuit breaker for just the garage area. It is likely you just had a breaker trip. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

11-25-2008, 01:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 11,893 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Garage Wall Outlets are not Working also, ..many local codes require that garage outlets be Ground Fault protected . . look at all the ouitlets to see if one of them has a ground fault interrupter that has tripped. __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

11-25-2008, 01:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,811 OS: Windows XP	Re: Garage Wall Outlets are not Working Do you mean that the garage's circuit breaker isn't located in the "main circuit breaker box" __________________ Tosh

11-25-2008, 01:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,811 OS: Windows XP	Re: Garage Wall Outlets are not Working How do I tell if the ground fault interrupter has been tripped. I should note that I pushed the test and reset button without knowing what I was doing. __________________ Tosh

11-25-2008, 01:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,811 OS: Windows XP	Re: Garage Wall Outlets are not Working Okay, it's working now. I pressed the Reset button and it was working, then I hit the Test button, and it stopped working. So, I just hit the Reset button again and left it like that. And now it's working. Is this bad? Did something happen with the ground fault interrupter? __________________ Tosh

11-25-2008, 04:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 11,893 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Garage Wall Outlets are not Working Probably not . . by nature they are sensitive . . may just hqave been a power outaqe/surge. If it keeps happening, I'd replace it __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

11-25-2008, 04:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,811 OS: Windows XP	Re: Garage Wall Outlets are not Working Well, thanks for the help simpswr and Tumbleweed36. __________________ Tosh

11-25-2008, 06:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,478 OS: XP Professional	Re: Garage Wall Outlets are not Working You are most welcome and it sounds like you are good to go. Some times there is a spike and they will trip because they are sensitive. I would not worry about it unless it trips regularly and if it does that, you either have a bad breaker or a place in the line that needs attention. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

11-25-2008, 10:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
SABL TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Galena, Ohio Posts: 933 OS: WinXP SP3	Re: [SOLVED] Garage Wall Outlets are not Working Generally it is recommended to test your GFCI on a monthly basis..... that's why it has the test button. If the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) fails to trip when the test button is pushed, it is time to replace it. If it trips too often when in use, check whatever you are plugging into the circuit. Make sure the tool or extension cord is not at fault. If at any time the GFCI needs replaced, do exactly that and NEVER bypass it or install a standard outlet in it's place. In earlier days the GFCI was in the form of a circuit breaker in the main panel....same story goes for that scenario.... replace it with a similar device with the same amperage rating. I'm only adding this little bit of info because I know of 2 people who paid the ultimate price for using tools on an "unprotected" circuit. Be safe....some building codes are actually good for you. SABL