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Steven Seteroff Posted on Feb 18, 2014
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Loss of Voltage along home wiring circuit.

I have a cicuit in my home with a microwave,2 switches going to seperate light fixtures and a wall plug on it.the wiring in my home is 12/2 Romex and is about 15 years old. I have not had any problems with this circuit in the past, but when I tried to start the microwave the other day, I lost power to everything along that circuit.no breakers were tripped and there was no "popping" sound. Upon testing Voltage along the circuit at the plugs and switches, I have decreased Voltage readings starting with the plug to the microwave @ 67V, and ending with the switches @ 27v and 19V. I replaced the plugs and switches with no change in the Voltage readings. I am running a new line to isolate the microwave on its own breaker but that will not solve my problem with the Voltage loss,will it. Please help me on this.Thank you

1 Answer

bobalix

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  • Master 471 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 18, 2014
bobalix
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I would try checking the neutral wire connections from the panel all the way to the microwave look for loose connection on the neutral bar and any wire nut connections. Hope this helps.

3 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 44 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 24, 2009

SOURCE: gfci breaker for spa

gfci's are designed to trip if they receive voltage on there ground/neutral side, therefore my vote is for Smithbrother I would say there is probably a partial short somewhere in you system.

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Fahr Quad

  • 776 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 27, 2009

SOURCE: Ground Fault circuit Breaker trips each time a load is applied

The most likely causes in their order of probability are: 1) water somewhere in the circuit causing the hot wire to ground; 2) a legitimate trip caused by a defect in a device plugged into the circuit; and 3) a defective GFCI breaker. In the first case, wait until it has been dry for about a week and see if it trips. In the second case, make sure there is nothing plugged into the circuit and try resetting. In the third case go ahead and put the regular breaker in, then put a GFCI outlet into the first box downstream from the breaker. If installed according to the directions, that outlet should protect all of the outlets downstream.

Joe Yoder

  • 132 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 27, 2009

SOURCE: two 15 amp arc fault breakers installed on two

It's possible that the first breaker that you said does not trip - it could be that breaker is failing to trip on a bad circuit. That is, it could be you have a bad circuit but that first breaker is not detecting it and pretends everything is OK. If your new breaker trips on the first breaker's circuit, the curcuit it probably bad and the breaker in not working properly. The most common problem for failed circuits is a stray ground wire in a box somewhere in the curcuit resting against a hot or neutral wire. You'll have to take apart every connection on that curcuit to find it. Not fun.

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Can i use this tester to check for any live wires. im installed a new light fixture on my porch from existing wiring but lights not tuning on

However, I can provide guidance on using a basic voltage tester to check for live wires when troubleshooting a light fixture installation.
Using a Voltage Tester:
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Rewire a light box with four wires

I can help... but cannot see your drawing.

Let's get started:
1) By code, the microwave? should be on dedicated circuit
2) You have 4 cables that enter the box.
3) Only 1 cable will be Hot and Neutral from breaker box. You must identify this cable first.
Here is drawing:
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Pantry-door-switch-1000.jpg

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Test each light separately.
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Open up light#1, and the Hot and Neutral arrive from switch box.
The Hot and Neutral going to lights#2-6 are also located inside light#1 box.
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Disconnect Hot and Neutral going to lights#2-6, so switch is only turning on light#1.
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Hello, I have a ceiling light fixture however there is nowhere I can install it on my ceiling. I have decided to run a wire from the light fixture along the ceiling to the wall and down to an electrical...

What you want to do is against the National
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Install a proper box in the ceiling for the
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Never use exposed cords
Jun 29, 2011 • Hammering
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How to wire this fan

The wiring on most paddle / ceiling fans id such:

White = Fan and Light neutral or "common"
Black = Fan line voltage or "hot"
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If you are replacing an existing light fixture - be sure to replace the ceiling box with one designed for use with a fan - as per electrical code. If the existing box had only 2 wires (or 3 counting the ground) that connected to the old light fixture and it was controlled from a wall switch, the wiring would be fixture white to ceiling white, fixture black and fixture blue to ceiling black (or red) and fixture green to ceiling bare ground or connected to the metal box. This would power both the fan and light whenever the wall switch was on and the pull chains for each were also on. This is also the preferred wiring for replacement of a pull chain type light fixture (no wall switch present).

If there are other wires in the box that previously were not connected to the old light fixture, using a meter or tester - determine if there is constant power between the ceiling white wire and any of the these other wires (test with the wall switch on and off to be sure). If you do have constant power available, you might consider using the wall switch to control only the light, and using the pull chain to operate the fan (or vice-versa). Simply connect the black (for fan) or the blue (for light) to the "constant power on" wire and that part of the fixture will work by pull chain only - regardless of the wall switch position. If the fan can be shut off by the wall switch, it is very important that the wall switch remain a toggle (or on / off switch), do NOT replace with a dimmer type switch.

If you'd prefer to operate the fan and light completely independently of each other - you can purchase a 3rd party fan & light remote control device for between $30 - $50.

I hope this helps and good luck! Please rate my reply. Thanks!
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Chain to light does not work

Most paddle fans that come with a light kit (or provisions to add one via plug / jack later) provide at least 3 wires (most times 4 though) that will need to be connected to the house wiring. Those wires are:

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Connect the paddle fan's blue wire to the switched wire, the black wire to the unswitched wire(s), the white wire to the other neutral (most likely white wire(s) and finally, the ground wire to the rest of the ground wire(s). Turn power back on.

Wiring in this way allows the light fixture to be controlled by the wall switch(es) and the fan by the pull chain on the fixture. Turn the wall switch on and pull the chain until the light turns on. You can remove the long chain once the switch turns the light on and off so it is not accidentally shut off at the paddle fan later. Change the fan speed from high to low and eventually off with the chain.

If you only have a switched or unswitched power source in the ceiling, you'll have to connect both the black and blue paddle fan wires to whichever type power you have in the ceiling (switched or unswitched). If you're using a switched sourced, that switch will have to be left on in order for the fan or light to work.

If you have wired in any of these methods already, it could be that the switch for the fixture has failed, and should be replaced with a like-type switch.

I hope this helps!
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We have 2 identical fans in 2 different bedrooms. I had an aircompressor going and my daughter was running a blow dryer and it blew the breaker. Now both fans don't run, but the lights work. ?? the black...

Do me a favor, prior to reading on any further; did you try pulling (or turning) on the fan chain? As simple as this sounds, I've experienced this before. And I'd rather you try the simple solution first, before opening up the fixture. Okay, if that didn't work - the first TURN OFF the light switch or circuit breaker before working on these fixture's. If you're not well schooled in doing electrical work, I'd advise turning the circuit breaker off along with the wall switch. Now, when you open up your fixture, the black wire should be hooked up to the fan motor(s) lead wire; and the blue wire to your light(s) lead wire. Now, if both your fan and light were working before, then the wires at the fixture (black/motor and blue/light) were wired together. If so, then it could've blown both motor(s)? But I don't believe it did. Now that you've checked everything out, and your ready to turn the fixture back on. Keep the wall switch in the off position. Then go turn on your circuit breaker. If everything holds, then turn the wall switch on. It's done in this manner for safety reason's. Try this, and then let me know how it went. You should be good to go. Good Luck, and feel free to contact me again if you have any problems. Jim
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I have red, metal, beige, and black wires in my ceiling. how do i hook up my Glendale fan?

If you could give me the specs on this (voltage and amperage), I can begin to help. Also, I would need to know what the values of the wires in the ceiling are. Meaning...is Black or Red wire's a Hot wire or switch leg. To find this out. First turn off the circuit breaker(s) at your electrical house panel. There could be two circuits, so make sure to have a voltage tester, or a little induction voltage tester that will help determine if power is on or off. Also, turn your wall switch off designated for this fixture. Now, leaving the wall switch off. Make sure to do this with two people. Turn on the circuit breaker. Either the black or the red wire will be hot (unless there's other circuits involved, which I don't think there is). Once you determine your hot wire, write it down. And then turn on the wall switch. Now, the other wire should be hot now. This is your switch leg. The wire that will operate (on and off) your fixture. Beige is most likely your neutral wire, and will go to the white wire(s) at the fixture. And the metal wire is your ground wire, and should go to your bare copper wire inside of your fixture. So now, turn everything back off (including both your circuit breaker and wall switch). So, Hot wire goes directly to your wall switch. It might be easier to hook up your switch leg first, because then the wire left over will go to your switch. So, Hot wire hooks up to wall switch. Other wire coming from switch, hooks up to the other colored wire (switch leg). The beige wire stays at the fixture and hooks up to the white wire(s), and then the bare copper wire splices (connects) to the metal wire from the ceiling. After you have everything wired, and the fixture put back together. Here's how you test it. Leave wall switch in off position. First, turn the circuit breaker back on. If everything is fine, then you turn on the wall switch. Note: If you're able to leave the fixture in the on position prior to turning the wall switch on - do so. That's why if there's any problems, you'll be a safe distance away. And the worst that could happen is that you trip the circuit breaker. Then, you'll have to recheck everything you did, and make sure all your connections are secure. Well, Good Luck to you, and feel free to ask me any further questions you may have. Jim 
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I have an outside spot light with a motion detector controlled by an inside switch. I want to change outside fixture & install dimmer switch in place of wall switch. I removed outside fixture. There...

First, let me say that if you're not entirely comfortable doing high voltage electrical work, you might want to call an electrician. It's not impossible for you to get hurt or killed or burn down your house. At least be sure to turn of the circuit breaker while you're working on it.

The blacks and whites twisted together are passing through power to other parts of your premises and are always on, so be sure to keep them twisted together. The red is the one that will take power from your light switch and send it to your light fixture.

At the fixture, connect the white to white and red to black, the same as before. At the light switch, connect the black to one side of the switch and the red to the other. When you turn on the switch, it will permit power from the black to travel down the red to the fixture, and from the fixture, the circuit will be completed through the white.

Good luck!
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