Why can’t I get power back to this outlet despite replacing it and checking the circuit breaker?
Asked by Felix Brown 
8 months ago
Last Updated: May 10, 2024
Hey guys, quick update! Turns out the issue was that I had two outlets connected to the same circuit breaker. Big shoutout to Brian Logue and Ray Vaughan for the help! I replaced both outlets and now they’re both up and running smoothly.
Hey everyone, just a little update – I suspect the circuit is causing trouble. I’ll check back in tomorrow with more info. Thanks for all the support!
Hey folks, I’ve replaced outlets in the past, but for some reason, I can’t seem to get power to this one. Any tips on what I might be missing? Appreciate the help! 😊
Did you check the switched outlet?
Do you know if a switched outlet should have a red wire in the box?
No, it’s not necessary for to do so; it all comes down to how it was connected.
No, not .
Hey, Phil, if it were flipped, it would disconnect the other wire.
Yes, if the wire is red, it could indicate a second switch. This is also known as a 3-way switch. It might be on the opposite side of the room.
Correct, however, it’s also possible for one side to act as a feed and the other side to be switched. It all depends on how it was wired. There are multiple ways to wire things, which doesn’t always mean it’s the right way, but it can still make it work. Since we don’t know for sure, it’s definitely something they can check. Not having a meter or any kind of tester makes it difficult.
No
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Did the breaker trip?
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I’m not an expert, but the connections seem correct. The white wire should be wrapped around the screws in the opposite direction though. My best guesses are that the breaker is off, the outlet is switched, or the outlet itself is faulty.
Is ranked second on the neutral that needs to be flipped over.
The orientation of the neutral wire won’t affect the outlet’s functionality. Tightening the wire may be easier, but it won’t make a difference in how well the outlet works.
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Here’s how I would troubleshoot this:
1. Make sure the breaker is not open. If it is, close it.
2. Connect the hot and neutral wires with a pigtail. If it sparks and closes your breaker, buy a new outlet. If not, call an electrician because your circuit is dead.
3. Install the new outlet and check for power using a tool. If there is no power, go back to step 1. If there is power, great job! Install the outlet cover.
Hey , it’s not safe to connect the hot and neutral wires to witness a spark. Use a meter to check for power instead.
Oh yeah, Tom makes a good point – always check if there’s a switch connected to the outlet.
Not everyone owns a meter. Plus, I’ve accidentally made contact with them enough times to believe it’s not a fire hazard to test it in that way. It’s definitely not the professional method, but in a DIY group, this person might only have a screwdriver and a wire stripper.
Another option is to wet your fingers and gently touch the plug, but it might give you a little shock.
I totally get what you’re saying, but I wouldn’t recommend any of those. I’m sure there’s a budget-friendly tester they could use instead for safety.
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Have you checked to see if there’s 120 volts coming out of the feed wire? Have you tested for continuity between ground and neutral? You should plug in a tester and see what it indicates.
There are a few different places you could begin.
I’m guessing you replaced a different outlet before this one and now there’s a loose connection on the circuit. You should also consider using green wire nuts for the ground wire to make sure everything is up to code.
Hey , thank you for your input! There’s a new update in the OP, take a look.
I’ve come across receptacles in the past that were of poor quality. Turn on the power and use a tester to confirm that your wires are live. If they are, consider replacing the receptacle with a different one.
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I believe the white wires are incorrectly placed on the screw. Remember, when you tighten the screw, it should grip the wire instead of pushing it away. The black ‘hot’ wires seem fine, but not the white ones. While this may not be the reason for the lack of power at the outlet, it’s still worth checking.
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Is the outlet on a gfci circuit?
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It might just be a faulty receptacle. Is it an outlet that can be switched on and off?
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If you tighten one of the screws too much where the 2 white wires are connected, it can break the connection between them. It’s hard to spot, but it happens often. One side of the plug may work while the other side doesn’t when that thin metal breaks.
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I’m not sure why the outlet isn’t making contact with the wires. The wires should be wrapped around the screws in a U fashion, but that shouldn’t be your concern. If the breaker is on, it could be a wire off another receptacle causing the issue. That’s why you wrap the wires that way – to prevent them from loosening easily.
Hey , you really came through for me! Appreciate your input, check out the update in the original post!
Have you flipped the breaker back on?
Have you confirmed if there is power going to the wires?
Just a reminder, make sure that the hot and neutrals hooked up at the top and bottom are from the same wire.
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Hey, quick question – are both of those wires hot? If they are, then that middle piece should be broken. Check to see if there is power to both black wires. If there is, you’ll end up blowing the breaker without breaking the brass piece between the screws. Essentially creating a short between two circuits. By the way, if that outlet is for the kitchen counter, they are always double breakered with a separate circuit for each plug.
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First, make sure to check the breakers. After that, take a look to see if the wires are burnt.
Hey, maybe it’s a good idea to call an electrician to double-check if you missed a wire or miswired something. Did the old outlet work only halfway?
Did you notice if there was a breaker or a broken wire, or maybe when you changed another outlet down the line from that one, something came loose and went back into the box?
Every now and then, when moving the wire, it tends to break in the process.
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It might be a double breaker causing the issue. If that’s the case, you will need to remove the cover plate on the side with the black screw to investigate further.
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Outlets are usually wired in a loop. Before checking the current outlet, examine the one before it to see if there is a loose wire or a jumper between the screws. Typically, outlets are connected starting from the one closest to the electrical panel and then extending around the room to the final outlet, which will only have one set of wires.
Hey , I really appreciate your help on this post! I was dealing with two outlets connected to a single breaker. Thanks a lot for your input!
The black wire broke between the screws on the outlet. You can view it in the picture. The bar is broken, sometimes they break when you tighten it too much.
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If is swapped out, it’s because it’s meant to be edited.
Check the outlet next to it and take it out to inspect the wiring. I redid some wiring that got burnt behind the nearby outlet. It caused another outlet further down the line to lose power. I was confused for a bit until I examined the neighboring outlet. It had power, but when I removed it, some of the wires were damaged.
I would recommend using a voltage tester to check if there is power going to the wires. If there is, it’s likely a faulty outlet. If not, the issue could be with the wire or the breaker. Start by inspecting the breaker first to see if it just needs to be reset. If it seems to be on, try turning it off and then back on. Dealing with a damaged wire can be troublesome, so save that for last and hope that there isn’t a problem within the wall.
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Try pulling it apart and checking for a feed to the box. If not, trace it back to potentially find an issue at another outlet. Not sure how many outlets you’ve checked before this one.
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Have you checked if it’s connected to a GFI somewhere?
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Hey, make sure to check if the light switch in the room controls the outlet. Take a look at the two black wires to see which one is hot. If both blacks are dead and the breaker is on, there might be an issue with the breaker. You can use a simple test light by connecting the lead to the black wire’s screws and the ground wire to check for light. If there’s light, test the white and black wires next. If no light, there may be a disconnect with the common (white) wires. If you get light, the outlet might be faulty. Try replacing it and see if it works.
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Do both black wires show signs of being live? Was the outlet you replaced functional?
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Consider getting a circuit tester to verify the presence of voltage
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2 points. First, it seems that the tab is damaged on the outlet as if it’s prepared for a switch. Secondly, it’s ideal to connect the black wires with a pigtail to the outlet and the white wires with another pigtail to the outlet. By doing this, even if the outlet malfunctions, other outlets on the same circuit will still function.
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