kitchen outlet no power

apt238 · 08-19-2006, 08:25 AM

I had a kitchen outlet that was working, but faulty (top receptacle of outlet didn't always have power). I changed to new receptable, now the entire circuit in kitchen doesn't work. If you can advise of what I can do, I would like to know what happened. I used a plug tester, but nothing lights up.

redline · 08-19-2006, 08:44 AM

Did you turn the breaker back on?

jwhite · 08-19-2006, 03:16 PM

Did you find the breaker and turn off power before starting work?

Do you have a tester? I mean one that does not plug in. If you use a plug in tester and the outlet is dead, then you pull the rec out of the wall you should test the wires to make sure they are dead.

Me thinks you have tripped a GFI and that you are lucky it was there.

apt238 · 08-19-2006, 04:52 PM

Yes, I turned off the breaker first before removing receptacle. It was suggested that I reset the utility breaker bc the garbage disposal and diswasher are on the same circuit. I did that and now there is power back in the kitchen...............but

another problem came about. I turned off the breaker again to put back the outlet into the wall, but now the power in kitchen circuit remained live. I shut all breaker circuits (furnance, utility, range, lights and plugs) Also, I went to the garage to shut off all power to the house, but when I checked the tester plug it was still lighted that all is correct. What happened now? Well....at least there's power, but something is wrong if it can't be turned off.

Thanks for your input and tips.

redline · 08-19-2006, 05:41 PM

Is the breaker panel labeled?
(ie. kitchen, garage, living room, bathroom...)

jwhite · 08-19-2006, 05:46 PM

What kind of tester are you using?

Do you live in an apt complex?

Is there another panel outside?

apt238 · 08-19-2006, 05:58 PM

The circuit breaker panel is labeled : "Utility Range"; "Utility Disposal AC Dishwasher"; "Furnace"; "Light"; "Plugs" In the Garage, the circuit breaker panel is labeled: "Lights Bulbs Washer Dryer"

This is a house.

I again turned off the circuit breaker and reset GFI and reset utility breaker, but kitchen circuit still live and can't turn off power. Should I be worried about overheating and just call a electrican?

jwhite · 08-19-2006, 06:02 PM

Dont loose any sleep. Just figure out which breaker, in which panel you forgot to turn off.

redline · 08-19-2006, 06:10 PM

Just to clarify:
You turned off ALL the breakers and you still had power JUST in the kitchen or just at this ONE outlet?

When you turned off all the breakers did the power turn off at the other plugs in the house?

Does the breaker for the kitchen area seem to move freely like the others or is it stiff to move?

redline · 08-19-2006, 06:16 PM

Do you still have the old receptacle that you removed?
Does it have the metal side bars removed or are they still intact?

hvacdude · 08-19-2006, 06:24 PM

if you have turned off all of the power, then no circit should be able to be completed. enough power may be storeed in the GFCI to lite a lite tester, even if there is no power to the circit.
try testing with a voltmeteter or a power comsuming device (lamp) (hairdrier) to see if you actual have a completed circit when the breaker is off. if so the circit is getting power from another source and you should consult an electrician.

randy

apt238 · 08-19-2006, 06:31 PM

When I turned off the circuit breaker power, all the outlets in the kitchen remained still on (there are about 8 outlets on this circuit).

All the other outlets, lights, utility throughout the house were off (no power).

The breaker moved freely with no problem.

The old receptable is now connected to the wiring (the top part no longer flickers when I first tested it the first time around and it shows connect correct). Yes, the metal side bars are still intact. It originally worked fine, but now who knows. Do I need to remove the metal tabs?

Thanks for everyone's help and the advice to not lose any sleep. (I'll try) If it's not a hazard that is good news.

redline · 08-19-2006, 06:35 PM

There should be a main breaker at the top of the panel box. This should turn off the whole panel and the whole house.
Turn this off and see if the kitchen outlets lose power.

If you lose power after the main breaker is turned off then you may have a bad breaker just for the kitchen circuit. The breaker is about $5-10 dollars but have an electician replace it or you could get seriously injured or killed working near live wires in the main panel box.

If the main circuit breaker does not stop power going to the kitchen then you are getting power from another source to this circuit.
Do you live in a condo?
Then you may be getting power form your neighbors circuit. If this is the case then you are very lucky that you did not get shocked when you changed the receptacle in the beginning.

hvacdude · 08-19-2006, 06:37 PM

8 plugs is a lot. i still dont understand why you would have power if you turrned off the right breaker.
should NOT remove tabs

jwhite · 08-19-2006, 06:57 PM

Is there another panel outside the house. The breaker might be there.

08-19-2006, 08:25 AM	#1
apt238 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 23	kitchen outlet no power I had a kitchen outlet that was working, but faulty (top receptacle of outlet didn't always have power). I changed to new receptable, now the entire circuit in kitchen doesn't work. If you can advise of what I can do, I would like to know what happened. I used a plug tester, but nothing lights up.

08-19-2006, 08:44 AM	#2
redline Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,083	kitchen outlet no power Did you turn the breaker back on?

08-19-2006, 03:16 PM	#3
jwhite Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 682	kitchen outlet no power Did you find the breaker and turn off power before starting work? Do you have a tester? I mean one that does not plug in. If you use a plug in tester and the outlet is dead, then you pull the rec out of the wall you should test the wires to make sure they are dead. Me thinks you have tripped a GFI and that you are lucky it was there.

08-19-2006, 04:52 PM	#4
apt238 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 23	kitchen outlet no power Yes, I turned off the breaker first before removing receptacle. It was suggested that I reset the utility breaker bc the garbage disposal and diswasher are on the same circuit. I did that and now there is power back in the kitchen...............but another problem came about. I turned off the breaker again to put back the outlet into the wall, but now the power in kitchen circuit remained live. I shut all breaker circuits (furnance, utility, range, lights and plugs) Also, I went to the garage to shut off all power to the house, but when I checked the tester plug it was still lighted that all is correct. What happened now? Well....at least there's power, but something is wrong if it can't be turned off. Thanks for your input and tips.

08-19-2006, 05:41 PM	#5
redline Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,083	kitchen outlet no power Is the breaker panel labeled? (ie. kitchen, garage, living room, bathroom...)

kitchen outlet no power