Electrical Problem

[saunaking]

I have an outlet that has been acting up lately.

If a lamp is plugged into the top outlet in the receptacle it goes on and off if the plug is moved at all, even when still plugged in.

The bottom outlet seems to be fine.

I decided to investigate - I shut off the breaker (the entire room goes dark, and both lamps that were plugged in go off.

I take my little electrical tester and when I put it in the receptacle (both top and bottom outlets) it beeps - indicating there is power there.

So I turn off the main power for the entire house. Now when i put the electrical tester to the outlets in the receptacle it does not beep - no power and the tester appears to be working properly.

There is a ground wire connected to the receptacle, the neutral and live wires all appear to be connected properly and insulated.

The black wires connect to the right side of the receptacle when I am looking at it and the white wires to the left

And when a plug is connected to the top outlet and I wiggle it around, the lamp goes on & off - the bottom outlet does not do this. Its just on.

I don’t have another receptacle to replace it with, but it must be more than just the receptacle if there is some power there with the breaker off.

[realAB]

that sucks

that will be sofa-king good when you fix it
.

[Lindley]

The receptacle may have a loose wire, but it sounds like the receptacle needs to be replaced. Intermittant power is a sign of loose wiring or device (receptacle/switch) failure.

Be safe and replace the receptacle. Loose wiring isa fire hazard.

Good Luck

[saunaking]

I will replace it but could it be the breaker needs replacing? It seems as if even with the breaker off some power is getting through. I think I will pick up a new breaker tomorrow too when I get a receptacle.

[patf]

that is an odd problem. you have power, flip a breaker and the lamp goes off, but the plug test that it has power with breaker off.

Is this 120volt US wiring, or European 240. Ignore all the following if not US 120.

A couple things. Sometimes the top outlet is a switched outlet so it may be getting power from a different circuit than the bottom outlet. Does a switch control either the top or bottom outlet?

Do you have one of the 3 prong testers that you plug in and it has 3 lights. It will show if the outlet is wired correctly. Probably about 5$ at Home Depot.

did you try you current test on other outlets? does it seem to work for them? If it is one of the fancy multipurpose testors you could be testing continuity vs voltage.

i use someting like these 2

http://www.homedepot.com/...&catalogId=10053

http://www.homedepot.com/...r=1&ddkey=Search

usually, you could check for current in the outlet, or by checking on each side. one nuetral, one on hot side.

I have heard of mistakes where perhaps two circuits get connected to each other so then you have 2 power sources so that may be possible.

if other applicance act the same way when you touch the plug, it sounds like you would need a new outlet.

[faded_memories]

Electrical wiring can be funny sometimes. Back at the arcade I got zapped a couple times by circuits that were OFF. It’s possible to get all kinds of phantom voltages from common neutrals and induced currents and whatnot.

When the breaker is off, and there is still voltage present, how much? 10 volts or 100?

Back to the original issue though, sounds like a loose connection. Change the receptacle.

I also second the continuity question. Most meters beep for CONTINUITY.

[Former_User]

CUTE!

[saunaking]

that is an odd problem. you have power, flip a breaker and the lamp goes off, but the plug test that it has power with breaker off.

Is this 120volt US wiring, or European 240. Ignore all the following if not US 120.

A couple things. Sometimes the top outlet is a switched outlet so it may be getting power from a different circuit than the bottom outlet. Does a switch control either the top or bottom outlet?

Do you have one of the 3 prong testers that you plug in and it has 3 lights. It will show if the outlet is wired correctly. Probably about 5$ at Home Depot.

did you try you current test on other outlets? does it seem to work for them? If it is one of the fancy multipurpose testors you could be testing continuity vs voltage.

i use someting like these 2

http://www.homedepot.com/...&catalogId=10053

http://www.homedepot.com/...r=1&ddkey=Search

usually, you could check for current in the outlet, or by checking on each side. one nuetral, one on hot side.

I have heard of mistakes where perhaps two circuits get connected to each other so then you have 2 power sources so that may be possible.

if other applicance act the same way when you touch the plug, it sounds like you would need a new outlet.

Yes, its 120volt wiring (Canada) -
Not controlled by any switch that I am aware of.
The tester I have only has 1 ‘prong’ and beeps in the presence of live power.

Kind of like this -

It will beep even if you hold it against an insulated wire (that runs from an outlet to a switch or between outlets) as long as that wire has power running through it.

I haven’t tested the other outlets on this circuit, will try that

To the other poster I can’t tell how much voltage is present with the breaker off as the tester doesn’t measure this

Thanks for the replies, am out of town today but want to get this looked after by the end of the weekend.

[patf]

I’ve not used that kind of tester, but could it pick up a wire going throught the wall that is not part of the circuit. I’m guessing that kind of tester would be good for tracking wires in walls so you can figure where your circuit is going.

My tester has 2 probes so you are checking either in the two slots of the outlet, or ify you have opend up the plug, you can test between the various black/white wires to see if any are powered.

[DavHamm]

Are you sure that outlet is on that circuit. Just cause they are in the same room, does not mean they are on the same circuit. Does the wall with that outlet have a room on the other side? If so try the breaker for that room.