Not 1... but 3 appliances randomly go dark.

7 years ago

In describing my situation and history, this became a small novel. Sorry.

Preface... I am the 2nd owner after renovations (in 2007) to a 40 year old home. The kitchen sold the place really. Updated, nice appliances, roomy. Lots of storage. For a single father of 2 it is ideal. Tiled backsplash and floor to match, decent counter space, and new counters. Really wows you when you walk in. Appealed to me right away. If there is such a thing, a manly kitchen. In short, nice, but I didn't do the work. Any of it. The most I have done is swap in a new dishwasher when the old one died (hole in the tub), and replace the halogen bulbs with LED bulbs.

Something has been going on in the cooking area though, and now that I'm sitting down and thinking about it...maybe for a bit longer than I realized. At first I noticed that the LED display on the stove was out. I flicked a burner on and it heated up... and the display was flashing 12:00. I reset the clock and thought nothing of it. Thinking a bit further back.. I had one of the two large burners crap out on me, and I have yet to replace it... I had thought that the burner died when my son hit the top of the stove too hard with a pot one day while that burner was cycling on. We saw a flash from the edge of the element.

Recently things have gotten a little bit more interesting.

I have an OTR microwave and just hadn't gotten around to installing it because I knew there were going to issues in mounting it, and I needed a 2nd pair of hands. One day prior to Christmas I noticed that the bulb in fan hood was burnt out. I replaced it. A couple hours later it was burnt out again. I replaced it again. The next day the bulb was burnt out again. I checked the breaker for the circuit..it was un tripped..and the fan worked fine. I checked the voltage at the connections under the hood, and they were normal for the house, and consistent with my power filter unit for the computer across the room. This odd behaviour gave me the incentive to get the OTR microwave installed.

While cooking dinner the other night, just this weekend, I needed to get a tray out of the storage compartment under the oven. The power to the oven and stove went off. After a few minutes... I pushed the power connector with my foot and the stove came back on. After supper my son closed the door to the dishwasher and the stove went off again. Stayed off even after cycling the breakers, which were not tripped. Pushing on the power plug behind the storage drawer and the stove came back on.

Just this morning I went to reheat my coffee in the OTR Microwave and the microwave went off just as a closed the door. I checked the dishwasher at the same time, and it too was without power. I went over to the breaker panel flipped the dishwasher breaker off and then on... and both appliances had power.

I think I can see where this is going, the 3 appliances are in the same area of the kitchen. What bothers me is that the stove.. which is a 220V appliance has issues, along with the 2 110V appliances. I should mention that while the microwave and dishwasher were dead, the oven and stove worked fine. I would expect that to be the case.

(I am aware that microwaves should be on their own circuit, so no need to mention that. I would prefer that, and come summer I may run a new line for that purpose.)

Any thoughts on this? Thanks

Comments (4)

Vith
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
1. sounds like the plug was loose on the range outlet

2. microwave bulb probably burned out due to old microwave.

3. Losing power on the new microwave means loose connection.

4. Dishwasher should be on its own line as well, has a high amp draw. Hopefully does not share with the countertop outlets. Obviously if it shares with microwave thats a problem, you knew that.

5. Dont really like that outlet over the range, tempting to plug something in there and then have the cord get melted. Id remove that outlet and put blank cover there.

6. You can see what shares circuits by cutting breakers one at a time and seeing what is live.
gtrshop
Original Author
7 years ago
1: How did it become loose 2 days in a row?

2: I replaced 2 bulbs in the range hood in the span of a day. Microwave replaced fan hood the lights haven't blown in the microwave, just powers off. When it powers off the dishwasher goes out too.

3: Thats what Im thinking too but worried as to where... in the wall....?

4: Yes, I am aware.

5: Agreed, but I didn't do it. We don't use it

6: I have a line toner. I know what shares what. Outlets are not on same circuit.
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greg_2015
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I'd say that the two issues are most likely separate.

Re: Oven

I'd check the connections in the receptacle. Something may be loose and pushing on the plug may have jiggled things enough to reconnect it but then it loosens over time.

Re: Microwave/Dishwasher

I wasn't positive if you were saying if they are on the same circuit or not. If they aren't then something weird is going on. If they are, then is the breaker a GFCI breaker? Either way, start opening up boxes and looking for loose connections on the circuit. Is anything other than the microwave/dishwasher on the circuit?

Re: outlet over the stove.

Not a big deal at all. Most freestanding ranges have outlets built into the panels at the back with the controls for the oven/stove. Yours doesn't since the controls are at the front. It isn't a safety hazard at all.
Vith
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Dishwasher is usually by a sink (for the drain) so usually the electric connection is under the sink. Perhaps that electric connection is behind the range instead. Otherwise it would be behind/ under the dishwasher. Either way you have to pull out the range and look. Unless you know where the dishwasher drains to (another mystery) you may end up with a plumbing can of worms as well. Microwave outlet would be a place to look for loose connection as well.

Considering the range plug connection. It is either loose connection between wiring and the outlet or the plug is just loose. Sometimes they way the outlet is orientated has a factor. I had a range outlet that made the cord point upwards so when I pushed oven back the plug wouldnt be completely seated, it still worked fine I just was not happy with it. I moved the outlet and changed the orientation to accommodate the range cord and plug correctly. It is also possible the outlet needs to be replaced, they do go bad sometimes.

You do need electric experience to start trying to figure this out. A loose connection is a loose connection, not much more can be said other than find it. Unlikely it is in the wall but it could be if problems continue after all connections have been checked and tightened.

Also fishing a line through an insulated exterior wall is a PITA, so have fun with that if you try to do it for the microwave. Would have better luck running a new one for the dishwasher as it is closer to the floor.

Not 1... but 3 appliances randomly go dark.

Comments (4)

Vith

gtrshop
Original Author

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greg_2015

Vith

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Not 1... but 3 appliances randomly go dark.

Comments (4)

Vith

gtrshopOriginal Author

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greg_2015

Vith

COMPANY

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GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

gtrshop
Original Author