[Bangarang]

I forgot to mention that if it's old aluminum wiring the wire might have actually corroded to the point that it breaks. If this is the case I buy special Marrettes (wire-nuts) that are designed for splicing copper and aluminum. Sometimes you need a de-oxidizing paste to put in the wire-nut as well. Just take the old splice apart, cut a new pigtail with a chunk of copper, pour a glob of de-ox on the wires and splice it back together.

But the guys above me are right, it's probably a GFCI that's across the house somewhere.

[TAG UR IT]

Originally Posted by Bangarang

I forgot to mention that if it's old aluminum wiring the wire might have actually corroded to the point that it breaks. If this is the case I buy special Marrettes (wire-nuts) that are designed for splicing copper and aluminum. Sometimes you need a de-oxidizing paste to put in the wire-nut as well. Just take the old splice apart, cut a new pigtail with a chunk of copper, pour a glob of de-ox on the wires and splice it back together.

But the guys above me are right, it's probably a GFCI that's across the house somewhere.

Thanks! I'll keep checking all the outlets...lights, plugs, etc and see if there is something. I can't find anything back there, though. And that kinda concerns me... Where the heck could it be? I think I might go out there once it stops raining and take apart the plug...see if there is something weird in there. The house is only 7 years old (bought new) so we know no one did anything fishy back there.

[f5journal]

Well, if you have that new camera, you can posts some pics

[Bangarang]

Also, it could be a bad neutral. In which case the hot still has a potential of shocking you when you are working on it. The two tools I find indispensable for this kind of situation are a non-contact tester and a plug tester. Which would cost around $30 probably if you buy the cheaper ones, they work just as well for a handyman who uses them rarely. Here are a couple of links to what they look like.

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/non-...-tester/918753
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/outl...-1-clam/963591

The nice thing about the plug tester is it tells you what the problem is, giving you a place to start from!

[TAG UR IT]

You are NOT going to believe this...

Back plug suddenly works.

Problem fixed. I've been around this house completely...checking closets for GFCI plugs, tripping the ones in the kitchen, pulling shelves away from walls (home theater stuff) looking for GFCI plugs back there...nothing.

BUT...since I couldn't find the plug...and since I hadn't plugged the rear lights back in after tripping the garage, I decided to go back there and plug them in...give it a shot.

BAM!

They are on.

So...I can only conclude that the builders of the house wired the front exterior, rear exterior, and inside garage plugs inline.

Everything works!

Bangarang and to everyone else, thanks a ton for your help. Honestly, I thought the plugs must have been messed up...but that's because I hadn't yet come across the tripped GFCI in the garage. HUGE help and now I know a bit more about my electrical wiring in the house!









Now...about that water heater that keeps tripping......

Seriously, I think I need to get someone out here to check that puppy. Might be a thermostat gone bad and in that case, our water heater has two...don't know how to figure out which one it is.

[helmincamaro]

Originally Posted by TAG UR IT

You are NOT going to believe this...

Back plug suddenly works.

Problem fixed. I've been around this house completely...checking closets for GFCI plugs, tripping the ones in the kitchen, pulling shelves away from walls (home theater stuff) looking for GFCI plugs back there...nothing.

BUT...since I couldn't find the plug...and since I hadn't plugged the rear lights back in after tripping the garage, I decided to go back there and plug them in...give it a shot.

BAM!

They are on.

So...I can only conclude that the builders of the house wired the front exterior, rear exterior, and inside garage plugs inline.

Everything works!

Bangarang and to everyone else, thanks a ton for your help. Honestly, I thought the plugs must have been messed up...but that's because I hadn't yet come across the tripped GFCI in the garage. HUGE help and now I know a bit more about my electrical wiring in the house!









Now...about that water heater that keeps tripping......

Seriously, I think I need to get someone out here to check that puppy. Might be a thermostat gone bad and in that case, our water heater has two...don't know how to figure out which one it is.

OR....... it worked all along and your just going crazy

[Bangarang]

Originally Posted by helmincamaro

OR....... it worked all along and your just going crazy

[TAG UR IT]

Oh, I've been crazy...ask my wife!

We have to push the "red button" on our water heater a couple times a day since the internal breaker trips on the thing. Sucks when you have to get up asap and jump in the shower only to have nothing but cold water come out....BRRRR

[CamaroSkooter]

Call the Beyer Boys. They'll take a look at your water heater and tell you what's going on

[2010SSRSM6]

Tag,

You may want to make sure your lights are not getting water into their plugs. I ran into this last year with all the heavy rain and wind. I have "outdoor" big green extension cords and they were still getting water in them. Talk about frustrating.

Now that they all work, lets see the pics!