I used an outlet tester on a non-GFI outlet and accidentally hit the GFI tester button. I heard a click and now the outlet is dead. Again, the outlet is not a GFI tester and has no buttons (reset). How do I get the outlet working?
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Used a GFI tester on a non-GFI outlet. Outlet is now dead.
- Thread starter miamialley
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Did you check the breaker panel that controls the outlet? It may have tripped the breaker.
Or blown the fuse, if you have a fusebox instead of a breaker panel.
Or blown the fuse, if you have a fusebox instead of a breaker panel.
I did check the breaker box and all the switches are to the on position. I looked for another nearby outlet that might be GFI to see it IT tripped, but I don't see such an outlet (just moved into this home).
It may depend on how your place is wired.
In more contemporary construction, the outlets are wired differently than decades ago.
For example, the electrical outlets for multiple bathrooms may be together with one GFI switch on one outlet. Same with the kitchen.
In older construction you might see a conductor go to a bedroom, then continue onto the attached bathroom.
So if you were testing a bathroom outlet with the GFI tester, check all of the other bathrooms for a GFI switch in one of the sockets.
In more contemporary construction, the outlets are wired differently than decades ago.
For example, the electrical outlets for multiple bathrooms may be together with one GFI switch on one outlet. Same with the kitchen.
In older construction you might see a conductor go to a bedroom, then continue onto the attached bathroom.
So if you were testing a bathroom outlet with the GFI tester, check all of the other bathrooms for a GFI switch in one of the sockets.
I can't figure it out. None of the outlets have the button. It's a new construction home. The outlets have stickers on them that indicate they are "GCFI Protected."
It's possible that the breaker is GCFI or you have a GCFI outlet somewhere upstream of the outlet you tested. I don't have experience with GCFI breakers, but some new breakers look un-tripped even when they are. The surest way to tell is by jiggling the breaker switch. If its there is a bit of play, it's tripped. You can always make sure by flipping it off then on again.
Hmm. Okay I will get jiggly with the breaker switch. I'll flip it off then on regardless. Will report back.
Hell, I'd open up one of the outlets, pull it out of the gang box, look for the manufacturer's name and model number, then go online to find the instruction sheet/installation manual.
I realize that makes me sound like an old fogey, using STFW like people did ten years ago.
It's likely the GFI outlet it's daisy-chained to is in another room, possibly on another FLOOR if your house has multiple floors. In my last house (which was new construction), I had two bathrooms on two different floors, and the outlet in the bathroom on the first floor was linked to the GFCI outlet in the bathroom on the SECOND floor.
In my current house, I have an outside outlet in the front of my house, an outlet on the upper deck, and an outlet on the lower deck. Despite being rather far away from each other, they are all linked together using ONE GFCI outlet.
It's my understanding that part of the reasoning behind doing it like this is because it can be more economical for electricians to simply run some extra cable from one location to another, rather than install more than one GFCI outlet (which are significantly expensive compared to standard outlets).
In my current house, I have an outside outlet in the front of my house, an outlet on the upper deck, and an outlet on the lower deck. Despite being rather far away from each other, they are all linked together using ONE GFCI outlet.
It's my understanding that part of the reasoning behind doing it like this is because it can be more economical for electricians to simply run some extra cable from one location to another, rather than install more than one GFCI outlet (which are significantly expensive compared to standard outlets).
I think you've already gotten all the answers you need here, but to clarify:
- The button on a GFI tester will not pop any breakers or fuses. A breaker or fuse is only to prevent too much current flowing from hot back to neutral*.
- The button allows some current from the hot-neutral path to leak to ground. This causes the GFI to trip off.
- The click you heard will be a GFI *somewhere*, and you've probably just not found it yet. This happened to me last year and I found the damn button on an outlet three rooms away.
This is what I described earlier.
At one place I lived in the GFCI outlet was in the garage near the electrical panel. Not a bad place to put it since you'll probably go to the electrical panel first.
if your neighbor had the same contractor see where their GFI is located.
anyways
the GFI has to be some place, look in all the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry rooms first. Look in the garage, basement and any outside outlets. As mentioned sometimes a circuit breaker can be a GFI, if so it will be labeled. Look under the kitchen sink, washer, behind the fridge.
have fun
anyways
the GFI has to be some place, look in all the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry rooms first. Look in the garage, basement and any outside outlets. As mentioned sometimes a circuit breaker can be a GFI, if so it will be labeled. Look under the kitchen sink, washer, behind the fridge.
have fun
Thanks for the responses so far. I can't turn off the breaker until later today because doing so will knock out my internet.
As of now, the only thing I see not working is that one outlet in question. I will check every outlet for a GFI button. Our electric panel is on the outside of the house, which seems really odd. I guess I really need to get a lock, huh?
I'll trip reset the breaker later and report back on my findings. Thanks for your help everyone.
Outlet is still out. The breaker knob did not have any 'play.' I even switched a few other breakers in case is was a different one (though they are labeled well).
You guys, every outlet in this house looks just like this. Less than half have this sticker on them. I turned the breaker off then on. Anything I'm missing?
You guys, every outlet in this house looks just like this. Less than half have this sticker on them. I turned the breaker off then on. Anything I'm missing?
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That sticker on the outlet should mean that the outlet is protected by a dual-function breaker - something like this one.
Notice that there is both a breaker reset toggle, and a test button on the breaker itself (labeled TEST).
Test the fault protection by pressing the Test button on the breaker. Should cause the breaker to trip.
If the breaker does not trip from the Test button (or you still can't find what actually tripped) - you should call an electrician, who will probably show you what to do the next time that happens
Notice that there is both a breaker reset toggle, and a test button on the breaker itself (labeled TEST).
Test the fault protection by pressing the Test button on the breaker. Should cause the breaker to trip.
If the breaker does not trip from the Test button (or you still can't find what actually tripped) - you should call an electrician, who will probably show you what to do the next time that happens
Those without stickers aren't GFCI protected. You can ignore those. The ones with the stickers are upstream of a GFCI outlet or is connected to a GFCI breaker. I'm guessing there is a GFCI outlet you've over looked. Most have red and black buttons on them, but some newer ones have the same color buttons as the outlets themselves. Like this one
Look closely, because if they're the same color as the outlet it's easy to over look them since if all the outlets uses the same face plates. I would look at the outlets nearest the breaker box and move upstream from there. Check the outdoors outlets too, because most outdoors outlets would be GFCI protected. Check near sinks and other "wet" locations where they might place an outlet.
None that I have found have a test button.
Every outlet looks exactly like the one pictured in my previous post, except that some have the GFCI sticker. I feel like I've looked every, even outside. The 'click' I heard sounded like it came from the area of the outlet in question. Is that expected?
That sticker on the outlet should mean that the outlet is protected by a dual-function breaker - something like this one.
Notice that there is both a breaker reset toggle, and a test button on the breaker itself (labeled TEST).
Test the fault protection by pressing the Test button on the breaker. Should cause the breaker to trip.
If the breaker does not trip from the Test button (or you still can't find what actually tripped) - you should call an electrician, who will probably show you what to do the next time that happens
So, I did go out and hit the test button on the 2 breaker levers that seem to match where this outlet is located. I got freaked out that I couldn't get the them to turn on again, but was able to see that they needed to go 'off' before fully going into the 'on' position (I have no idea what I'm doing). Outlet is still dead.
So, is the consensus that the house HAS to have 1 outlet with the reset button (and I'm just not finding it)? Is it possible no outlets have the test button? If there is no test button and the turning off the breakers didn't work, where are we now? And yes, I am likely not going to screw with anything further.
expect the un expected!
GFI outlets can be anywhere but usually in the kitchen, bathroom maybe the laundry room
Yeah, the GFCI in my downstairs bathroom is connected to an outlet in the garage, and one out back.