Electrical problem

[vraiblonde]

So about a month ago my deck electric crapped out. There are a number of outlets and one GFCI with a reset button. I reset, no joy. I reset the breaker, no joy.

Electric guy came and put in a new GFCI and it worked fine...until yesterday. The light is showing orange instead of green, I tried to reset, yadda yadda.

Any ideas what the problem could be?

My first thought was moisture/humidity, but it's only been a problem recently. Also it's in a supposedly weather proof box and I didn't see any visible signs of moisture.

 

[Sneakers]

It's possible he didn't install a weather resistant GFCI. Other than that, it would take some digging to find a fault on the rest of the circuit.

 

[Gilligan]

I get rid of the GFCIs. Problem solved. Of course I'm also the guy that considers automotive fuses to be graded as 22 short, 22 and 22 long rifle.

 

[Sneakers]

I get rid of the GFCIs. Problem solved. Of course I'm also the guy that considers automotive fuses to be graded as 22 short, 22 and 22 long rifle.

So.... are you the guy who got his junk shot when the 22 overheated?

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15132657/urban-legends/

 

[Gilligan]

So.... are you the guy who got his junk shot when the 22 overheated?

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15132657/urban-legends/

Love that story...but ..no. I make sure the buwetts are pointed away from my sensitive areas.

SGI hates my field mods to his precious electronics. He puts a 5A fuse in to run a 4.5A device. When that blows, I replace with at least a 20A. ;-p

 

[Kyle]

Love that story...but ..no. I make sure the buwetts are pointed away from my sensitive areas.

SGI hates my field mods to his precious electronics. He puts a 5A fuse in to run a 4.5A device. When that blows, I replace with at least a 20A. ;-p

Problem solved.

 

[Gilligan]

Problem solved.

inorite? That's me...I'm a problem solver.

 

[GregV814]

WRAP TIN FOIL AROUND THE FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS. ENSURENCE GUYS WILL NEVER KNOW.

 

[phreddyp]

1st thing is to take a plastic pen or tube and push the reset button in, when you do this make sure you put pressure on both sides of the reset button (left and right or top and bottom) then check for power, GFCI receptacles are notorious for not resetting both the hot and neutral at the same time. Also make sure that the test button is not pushed in. That is the best I can do for you at this time without being there.

 

[vraiblonde]

Also make sure that the test button is not pushed in.

The test button appears to be pushed in. I pushed it and it didn't go anywhere. How do I make it stop that? I tried yelling, "This is MAGA country, bitch!" at it and it didn't seem to care.

 

[phreddyp]

The test button appears to be pushed in. I pushed it and it didn't go anywhere. How do I make it stop that? I tried yelling, "This is MAGA country, bitch!" at it and it didn't seem to care.

About the only thing you can do is tap it rather soundly and see if it pops out, although someone would have had to push it in 1st. That is all I've got sorry.

 

[vraiblonde]

About the only thing you can do is tap it rather soundly and see if it pops out, although someone would have had to push it in 1st. That is all I've got sorry.

Well that's more than I got Thanks!

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

The test button appears to be pushed in. I pushed it and it didn't go anywhere. How do I make it stop that? I tried yelling, "This is MAGA country, bitch!" at it and it didn't seem to care.

The test button doesn't really push that far in, only enough to trip the reset button. They do not get stuck in a depressed position. An orange light indicates it has tripped. Push the reset button in real hard until the light turns green.

 

[vraiblonde]

For your consideration ...





The test button doesn't really push that far in, only enough to trip the reset button. They do not get stuck in a depressed position. An orange light indicates it has tripped. Push the reset button in real hard until the light turns green.

I did that a couple times and it stays orange. Should I hold it for a few seconds?

 

[Sneakers]

I did that a couple times and it stays orange. Should I hold it for a few seconds?

No. If pressing the TEST button to trip it, then pressing in the RESET button does not work, either the GFCI is bad or there is a short/open somewhere. If the GFCI is already tripped, nothing will happen when you press TEST. Just try to RESET.

If you have things plugged in to that circuit, unplug them all just in case you have a bad device, then try to RESET again.

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

I did that a couple times and it stays orange. Should I hold it for a few seconds?

What Sneakers said. Also, ya might what to get that electrician back and get a refund or have him install you a new free GFCI. They shouldn't go bad so soon.

 

[vraiblonde]

If you have things plugged in to that circuit, unplug them all just in case you have a bad device, then try to RESET again.

This did the trick The culprit was my string of deck lights.

Thanks!

 

[Sneakers]

This did the trick The culprit was my string of deck lights.

Thanks!

So, maybe the GFCI that got replaced wasn't bad.

 

[vraiblonde]

So, maybe the GFCI that got replaced wasn't bad.

Maybe but I seem to remember the electric guy unplugging everything before he started testing it.

Well yay! Now I have another fix-it thing under my belt in case it happens again!