darsunt

We have a wall socket that is dead. I've checked the breakers, they are all on. It looks like all the other wall sockets are okay. I've tested it with multimeter and no current.

We will probably get an electrician to fix it, but I am curious what could possibly be wrong. All the wiring is behind the walls, I can't see how they could get damaged or separated.

wirenut1110

My guess is a back stabbed receptacle that the connection has come loose and is at that receptacle or the one feeding it.

J. V.

Take it out and see whats wrong. Turn off the power first. This does not require a professional. But a professional would like this call from you.

samson5o5

More than likey a loose wire in a juction point.

To check the recp with the multimeter, check from ground to the hot, not the Neutral, with your multimeter. You could have a loose N and your recp wont work just as if you lose your Hot, your multimeter wont show the voltage on the Hot since the reference point doesn't exist if you use the non-existant N. You can also use a recp tester, it has the 3 lights which will tell you if the phase/ground/N is correct/wrong. They are $4 anywhere.

To test if you have the N at your recp, use the resistance test on your multimeter and check between the N and the ground. DO NOT CHECK HOT TO GROUND WITH YOUR OHM METER!!! bad things will happen if you have a cheap one. If the N is connected, you should get a small reading, around 0.3 milli ohms if you have the N. If your N is disconnected your meter will show max resistance and not change.

If it is a loose connection, the loose connection will either be in the box with the bad recp, in one of the boxes on either side of the bad recp or lastly if you have a light switch close, it could be there. You could just turn the power off to those, which should be the same power as the bad one, and pull them out of the wall and check the connections for everything. Check the Murrets as well. You could save yourself some $$ because that is what the Electrician will do.

darsunt

Thanks for the comments. I will review my wiring basics and follow up on your suggestions.

HouseHelper

Maybe it's controlled by a switch that's been turned off.

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buddy builder

either househelper or wirenut is right. if it is a backstabber problem it will probably be from the plug next to the one out. if this problem is in a living room without an overhead light i would put my money on a switch. thanks, buddy builder

J. V.

Any one of us could be right. I put my money on any one of us.