How can I troubleshoot a completely dead outlet without risking a shock, and is a box missing behind the outlet?
Asked by Martín Pulido 
2 months ago
Last Updated: October 10, 2024
I’m kind of stuck right now. This outlet is not working at all. I definitely don’t want to risk touching the wires with my fingers, so how else can I troubleshoot this? And I think there might be a missing box behind the outlet as well, right?
Would you like to hire an electrician?
Can you pass me the multimeter?
Make sure to keep an eye out for things that could go wrong and potentially worsen. If one thing seems off, it’s best to be cautious about the rest. Take steps to protect yourself and your home by reaching out for help.
Hey man, I think you should probably not mess with that. The questions you’re asking make me think you should leave it alone and not try to change it yourself.
. Rein, absolutely! reat advice! I’ve been in this field since 1988, and it still worries me when I encounter a situation where nothing has been done!
I think having a box would be a good idea.
Can we put the house on the market?
I remember this one time when I unplugged an outlet and the new wire just kept coming out for about a foot. It ended up being connected to a button and cord, which my Aunt calls knob and tube, and I loved it so much I kept it for myself.
Can you give an electrician a call?
I’m really hoping it didn’t fall behind the wall – that would definitely be a fire hazard.
Looks like you might need a professional electrician to take a look at what’s going on with your wiring.
‘t try to fix it yourself, you don’t know what you’re doing – call an electrician!
That’s a real homeowner special. It should definitely be in a box. A volt meter can give you a lot of information. And make sure to contact a certified electrician.
Could you hire an electrician for this situation? I have a feeling there may be additional issues with the other outlets in the picture. This might be too complex for someone who is not experienced in DIY projects. ⚡️☠️🔥
– So I heard from a YouTube video or somewhere online that this is a simple DIY task. Turns out, not so much!
I understand the need for DIY. Yeah, there should definitely be a box… But if the person who installed it was reckless enough not to use one, you have to wonder what other shortcuts they took. It’s like conducting electrical forensics now… And even if you rewire the outlet, you can’t just leave the mess the previous person left behind in the wall to cause problems later on.
Stick your finger straight to your tongue instead of licking it!
I totally agree! Definitely the best decision after reading these comments.
Lol … just grab a voltage tester, you can find an inexpensive one and simply touch it to the wire, it will beep if it’s live
Lmao
To make it work, it should be connected to an 8/3 wire and a 2-pole 40 amp breaker.
I’d opt for six gauge just to be safe.
Also recommends pigtailting the hot and neutral before making the connections.
You require a meter.
Hire an electrician
Even Boy Scouts aren’t great at making fire starters.
It leads to Narnia
Just a friendly reminder to hire a skilled electrician and take care of any potential issues. Your safety and your loved ones’ safety are too important to risk! And remember, just because something seems to be working doesn’t mean it’s safe. Sometimes you need a professional to make sure everything is up to code. And always keep in mind that electricity will find the easiest route, not necessarily the one you were anticipating.
Stick it up your bumhole 👍
If it were me, I would definitely put in an old work box on the wall above the baseboard and fix it up. But only after getting that electrical issue fixed. I would recommend getting an electrician to handle that first, and then you can think about taking on the baseboard repair.
Just touch it with your tongue. No need to use your fingers.
Jerry lives there, and he actually turned off the power when he moved in. That outlet is his sneaky way into his pad. And if you shine a light in there, you’ll spot a small lounge chair and a little coffee table.
Just contact a licensed electrician for a simple solution
Special deal for homeowners
Double check that your renters insurance includes fire coverage.
You won’t need to touch live wires with your fingers!
It could actually be connected to a different switch. Flip the correct one and you’ll definitely feel a shock you won’t soon forget! It’s possible that it was wired to turn on a lamp that’s plugged into it. ⚡️
Avoid licking anything! Just urinate on it!
You might want to consider contacting an electrician
You might want to contact an electrician to check if there’s a faulty breaker or a disconnected circuit.
Normally, we would follow the circuit to try and figure out where the problem is coming from, but there could be a few different reasons why that’s happening.
They seem to accept anyone into this group
Single wire at the end of the circuit
I tend to provide ambiguous responses
Could really use a “FFS” reaction emoji.
Why not just set fire to the house and be done with it?
Looking on the positive side, it’s been wired on the side.
At least the guy wasn’t a total traitorous jerk.
Lick ’em gently.
That’s a pretty silly question
Based on what I can tell, the problem lies elsewhere. There should definitely be a junction box. Whoever did this clearly cut corners on other aspects of the job. I strongly advise you to seek help from a qualified professional before your home goes up in flames, potentially endangering those you care about!