Kitchen Outlets

[mrbill]

Recently moved into a 15 year old townhouse. The kitchen wall outlets are live, but do not power any items (lamps, tools, etc.) The continuity tester lights up when inserted into the outlet. I removed the outlet and the two wires are attached, along with the ground wire attached. What could be the problem ? Would it help if I reversed the wires ? Thanks,

[Electric101]

Noooooooooooo.......... don't reverse the wires! I'm not sure what type of tester you are using or how you are using it so it makes it difficult to figure out your problem. If it is a simple continuity checker, depending upon how its used, might give you false readings. Regardless, you might be better off getting one of the two items I mention later. But try this, see if you have any GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets or a GFCI circuit breaker. They could be tripped. I would get either a voltage meter or one of those plug-in type testers with the lights that glow. The plug-in testers are fairly cheap and easy to operate, they simply plug in and the lights indicate several different possible malfunctions or it will tell you if the circuit is ok. The volt meter of course would tell you for certain if you had 120 Volts (nominal of course) at your outlets. You should get 120 volts when read from the hot lead to neutral and from the hot lead to ground. If all the outlets seem "dead" I would speculate that a GFCI outlet or breaker has tripped. FYI, one GFCI outlet can (and most often do) control the power to other non-GFCI outlets (receptacles). Hope this help. :-) And once more, please don't reverse the wires! Very bad things could happen! Good luck!

[Electroman]

For more information on GFCI outlets, see our article here

GFCI Outlets (http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/homemaintenance/electrical/gfci.php)

In the kitchen, there is often a GFCI near the garbage disposal.