[Mystriss]

We've got an outlet that's not working and we can't get connectivity for it. The wiring set up in there is a bit... odd; 4 outlets in the room but some wiring is in-wall, some is in floor (running across the room), and some is through the attic. I think it was a drunken wire-up.

I'm pretty sure the outlet worked some years back so I'm a bit concerned. We're going to rewire it to the circuit since we've got all the subfloor pulled, but I'm not sure what we should do with the old wires since we can't find the other end and I can't pull the wire out. Do we just wire nut it off inside the box?

Is there any good way to trace the stupid wire in-wall without a load on it? Also it's an exterior wall so it's insulated.

 

[chandler48]

Simple solution is to wire nut the wires and leave them in the box. Have you checked all the receptacles on this circuit? If any are using the stab backs, remove the wires to the screws and see if your connectivity is restored. It is usually the last working receptacle of the first non working receptacle that is the culprit.

 

[Wiredindallas]

Is the non-working receptacle a single cable or more? Are you sure there is no switch controlling it?

 

[Colbyt]

If I could not determine both ends of the dead wire I nut it and leave in the box. That probably is the best way to do it.


I have left know dead wires in the walls but always label them dead on each end of the run.


comment: the way some people wire things the switch does not even have to be in the same room.

 

[Wiredindallas]

One more thought, the power could come from a switch box even if it is not controlled by a switch.

 

[Mystriss]

To answer the question I should have anticipated, there are no backstabs allowed in my house!

I'll just plan to mark it dead and nut it off in the box.


I had done up this diagram of what I'd been able to figure out yesterday, but I passed out on my keyboard before I got it posted :vs_laugh:

Outlet 1 (left side) Power comes up from the fuse box through the floor, then goes back down and through the floor across to outlet 2 (right side), then from outlet two it goes through the wall to outlet 3 (pink box as not in picture) and dead ends there [one 12/2 wire].

Outlet 4, (red box in pic as it's behind the table,) is the bad one and it only has the line in [one 12/2 wire.] The wire is in-wall, but I can't figure out where it might be coming from.

Note: all the other outlets are connected together in a working circuit. 4 is an orphan.

This pic might also help, that's the wall on the right side.

You can just see the romex coming through the joist on the left open bay that goes to the switch & ceiling light [has the one line in, nothing goes back out through the floor]

In the 5th open joist bay is the wire that runs from outlet 1 to outlet 2.

There is also a romex in the floor under the wall there (its behind all my low voltage/speaker wires and not visible in the pic.) I'm pretty sure it comes from the fuse box and does the outlets in the bedroom on the other side.

----

There's finally enough light to do something in there now so I'm gonna see if I can get a connection between the light switch and outlet 4. That's the only switch in the room.

Also gonna double check that the romex under the right wall goes to the other bedroom.

Just for GP I think I'll test the bad outlet to the other bedroom outlet as well.

Will update if I sort the crazy wiring out in this room, else I'll just nut the thing and move on lol