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Electrical Wiring

half of counter top outlets and dishwasher do not work?

16 years ago

3 kitchen counter outlets and my dishwasher are on one 20 amp fuse. The first outlet on the counter top is a GFCI and it works fine. The other two and the dishwasher all of a sudden stopped working. The fuse is not tripped and I have reset the GFCI. I have a voltage detector and when I put the tester on the two non-working outlets the voltage tester goes off indicating the outlets have power? I plug in something and no power. I am stumped. Any ideas?

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Comments (6)

bigbird_1
16 years ago
The voltage tester may be a digital tester that will pick up stray and phantom voltages. I would suspect there is an open circuit somewhere in the "LOAD" portion downstream of the GFCI. Look for loose hot or neutrals downstream of the GFCI, starting at the "LOAD" terminals of the GFCI.
jac7170
Original Author
16 years ago
I changed the non-working outlets on the counter top and made sure the wires were connected tightly. I still am not getting any power. The voltage tester is lighting up when I place it on the black wire and the white wire as well. I don't think the white wire should power the tester? right? Any thoughts on this? thanks
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normel
16 years ago
Check the working receptacles also. The loose wire may be there.
billhart
16 years ago
If you have some load plugged into one of the dead receptacles, and the white wire tests hot, then the problem is probably the white wire is loose at the place where this chain of receptacles is fed. Check the white wire on the LOAD terminal of the working receptacle.
sailor86
16 years ago
Are you testing from hot to ground, and neutral to ground? Try also testing from black to white and see what you get.
jac7170
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the troubleshooting tips, turns out my GFI receptical was bad. I just replaced the GFI and everything started working fine. The GFI I put in was only a couple months old but must have bought a lemon? Thanks again for all the feedback on my question. This is a great forum. Have a great day everyone!~

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