None of the electrical outlets, fixtures and appliances in my garage seem to be working. I reset all circuit breaker swithches and the GCFI outlet in the garage, but it did not work. I replaced the garage's GCFI outlet, and it still did not work. Any other tips anyone can advise before I need to call in an electrician.
Thanks,
Don
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The basic procedure for figuring out a problem like this is to get a neon tester and, starting at the breaker box end, trace the wiring along, checking for power at each junction box or fixture.
When you find one that is dead, you have isolated the problem to the wiring from the previous (hot) box to this (dead) one. In most cases, it will be a loose connection right in one of those 2 boxes.
Note that I skipped lightly over "trace the wiring along". That may be quite a problem in a finished house -- you generally can't tell what path the wiring follows thru the house. You can make guesses, but sometimes it can follow a very surprising path. Tracing the actual circuit path is sometimes rather like a detective story!
When you find one that is dead, you have isolated the problem to the wiring from the previous (hot) box to this (dead) one. In most cases, it will be a loose connection right in one of those 2 boxes.
Note that I skipped lightly over "trace the wiring along". That may be quite a problem in a finished house -- you generally can't tell what path the wiring follows thru the house. You can make guesses, but sometimes it can follow a very surprising path. Tracing the actual circuit path is sometimes rather like a detective story!
It might not have anything to do with the GFCI.
Lights (not clear if they are off or not) do not need to be protected. Also appliances that are not normally movable (such as a refigerator or freezer) don't need GFCI protection. Likewise receptacle that are out of normal reach (garage door opener).
So it is possible that the circuit goes to one of those locations before it gets to the GFCI.
Start checking those (staring with the ones nearest the panel) for bad connections.
Lights (not clear if they are off or not) do not need to be protected. Also appliances that are not normally movable (such as a refigerator or freezer) don't need GFCI protection. Likewise receptacle that are out of normal reach (garage door opener).
So it is possible that the circuit goes to one of those locations before it gets to the GFCI.
Start checking those (staring with the ones nearest the panel) for bad connections.
