ᐅ Surface-mounted outlet has only minimal power – could the circuit breaker be wired incorrectly?
Created on: 8 Feb 2022 10:22
A
annab377
Hello,
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
annab377 schrieb:
Yes, that’s what I meant, but what could I have done wrong with these symptoms? If you know what you’re doing, it’s actually hard to make a real mistake.
It’s not exactly rocket science to connect an electrical outlet. So I assume you didn’t do anything wrong. Usually, the circuit breaker would have tripped in that case.
Without a proper diagnosis (measuring voltage between the live and neutral wires against ground with a multimeter, and if possible, continuity testing the cables), good advice is hard to give. Most likely, it’s best if a qualified professional takes a look on site.
Be careful with electricity in any case. Don’t mess around with the distribution panel or anything like that. (I’m just saying this as a formality—I assume you know what you’re doing.)