ᐅ Surface-mounted outlet has only minimal power – could the circuit breaker be wired incorrectly?
Created on: 8 Feb 2022 10:22
A
annab377Hello,
the last electrical outlet is causing some strange issues, and I’m sure one of you can identify the problem.
It’s a surface-mounted double outlet in the attic. Down in the electrical panel, the electrician installed the circuit breaker for it as standard. It’s the correct one: when I switch the breaker off, a voltage tester does not light up at the outlet. When I switch it on, the voltage tester lights up clearly in one slot, but very dimly in the other. I always thought it would only light up in one slot of the outlet?
Anyway, I have a three-socket power strip plugged into the outlet, and its LED also lights up. However, as soon as I plug a lamp into the power strip and try to turn it on, the LED on the power strip goes off. The lamp does not light up.
If I plug the lamp directly into the double surface-mounted outlet, it flickers briefly once every second. It’s far from fully lit. It’s an LED GU10 bulb.
Am I getting too little power up to the attic? What could be causing this?
There is power (the LED on the power strip lights up and the bulb flickers at least dimly), but why so little?
I’ve also tried re-wiring the sockets (blue wire on the right and brown on the left, although that shouldn’t matter with AC current), but nothing changes; the same issue occurs.
Could something be wired incorrectly in the electrical panel?
Thanks and sunny regards
the last electrical outlet is causing some strange issues, and I’m sure one of you can identify the problem.
It’s a surface-mounted double outlet in the attic. Down in the electrical panel, the electrician installed the circuit breaker for it as standard. It’s the correct one: when I switch the breaker off, a voltage tester does not light up at the outlet. When I switch it on, the voltage tester lights up clearly in one slot, but very dimly in the other. I always thought it would only light up in one slot of the outlet?
Anyway, I have a three-socket power strip plugged into the outlet, and its LED also lights up. However, as soon as I plug a lamp into the power strip and try to turn it on, the LED on the power strip goes off. The lamp does not light up.
If I plug the lamp directly into the double surface-mounted outlet, it flickers briefly once every second. It’s far from fully lit. It’s an LED GU10 bulb.
Am I getting too little power up to the attic? What could be causing this?
There is power (the LED on the power strip lights up and the bulb flickers at least dimly), but why so little?
I’ve also tried re-wiring the sockets (blue wire on the right and brown on the left, although that shouldn’t matter with AC current), but nothing changes; the same issue occurs.
Could something be wired incorrectly in the electrical panel?
Thanks and sunny regards
That sounds like a serious installation error, or you may have a faulty appliance in the circuit.
The faint glow of the voltage tester in the "other slot" should not occur. There is voltage present where it shouldn’t be.
Unfortunately, a voltage tester won’t help you much in this case.
If it’s not too much trouble, I would suggest switching off all circuit breakers except the one affected (which can be a hassle with devices like clock radios and similar gadgets) and unplugging all appliances on the same circuit from the attic.
Then try again with the voltage tester on the socket or lamp, and get back to us.
The faint glow of the voltage tester in the "other slot" should not occur. There is voltage present where it shouldn’t be.
Unfortunately, a voltage tester won’t help you much in this case.
If it’s not too much trouble, I would suggest switching off all circuit breakers except the one affected (which can be a hassle with devices like clock radios and similar gadgets) and unplugging all appliances on the same circuit from the attic.
Then try again with the voltage tester on the socket or lamp, and get back to us.
If I were you, I would turn off the circuit breaker immediately and call the electrician. He should measure the wiring. Is this a new build or was the wiring recently installed? Then I wonder what exactly he measured...
It could, of course, also be a faulty appliance. My predecessor is right. First, disconnect everything and check again, and if the problem persists, report it.
It could, of course, also be a faulty appliance. My predecessor is right. First, disconnect everything and check again, and if the problem persists, report it.
Yes, it is a new build. The cable (3x1.5mm²) runs up the exterior wall to the attic.
He probably didn’t measure anything there, as he only installed the breaker. He didn’t measure or install anything up in the attic. I was the one who connected the surface-mounted outlet to the 3x1.5mm² cable.
Thanks for your help, so it probably isn’t that simple after all. I hope there’s no cable break or damage.
I will test the following:
a) Measure the cable from the breaker (the resistance on all three conductors should be zero ohms).
b) Connect a load (lamp) to the breaker instead of the cable and see if it lights up normally (if it does, then the problem is likely in the cable beyond the breaker).
He probably didn’t measure anything there, as he only installed the breaker. He didn’t measure or install anything up in the attic. I was the one who connected the surface-mounted outlet to the 3x1.5mm² cable.
Thanks for your help, so it probably isn’t that simple after all. I hope there’s no cable break or damage.
I will test the following:
a) Measure the cable from the breaker (the resistance on all three conductors should be zero ohms).
b) Connect a load (lamp) to the breaker instead of the cable and see if it lights up normally (if it does, then the problem is likely in the cable beyond the breaker).
annab377 schrieb:
I recently connected the surface-mounted socket to the 3x1.5mm2 cable.
You connected it? Aha, could the error be there?
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