Problem with outlets

Forums: Electricity, Electrical, Ground Fault Interruptor, G F I, Gfi
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I have two outlets in my kitchen that keep going bad. They appear to be at the end of the string. They are non GFI outlets and there is a GFI wired in before these two outlets. They keep going bad. I have installed new ones a couple of times now. They go bad within a day or two. They worked fine the first few months we lived in the house. I also notice that the light on the tester is noticeably dimmer when testing these two problem outlets than when I test the GFI before these outlets. Any idea what they problem may be and what I can do to fix it?

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Type: Question • Score: 3 • Views: 3,052 • Replies: 8

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Get an electrician.

1 Reply

@contrex,

I'm with contrex. Fiddling about with bad wiring (particularly since these aren't GFI outlets, so you don't have that level of protection) is inviting a potentially fatal shock.

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@Technia5,

Yep, get an electrician. I have done quite a bit of work on my house but when it came to electrical stiff I hired an electrician. I didn’t want to take any chances with burning the house down.

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@Technia5,

How do the outlets "go bad"? There isn't much that can go wrong with an outlet. If they fail to have power and a new one soon fails to have power then the problem is probably the wiring, not the outlet you keep changing.

First question is how they are wired to the GFI. My guess would be the GFI is bad, someone wired the GFI wrong or the wiring from the GFI to the outlet has a problem. All could result in fire or electrocution.

2 Replies

@parados,

I think you are on the right track. GFIs are highly temperamental. Of course, it would be best to get an electrician as has already been said.

0 Replies

@parados,

Mice can chew through electrical wires. This could be causing an intermittent short. An electrician is probably in order

If I was trouble shooting, I would disconnect the electric for those outlets and check continuity and resistance.

Is wire size in the wall correct? Too small a wire can cause loss of power but also causes wires to heat up. I guess it probably isn't a good idea to assume the person that originally installed those outlets did it correctly and to proper code.

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@Technia5,

You've already received the best advise; get an electrician.

BTW, when you get old like me, don't climb ladders.

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@Technia5,

im lic elect. yes gfis r notorious for going bad, they typically will last 5 years or less depending on use. the dim lite has me thinkin u have a neutral prob in the line. let me know if still not solved and i can walk u thru fixin it. (but ull need a voltmeter, any cheap one will work but digital is only way to go

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Problem with outlets

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