Outdoor Outlet not Working

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I just looked outside and noticed that my Christmas lights are not on. I checked the connections and found that there is no power coming from the outlet on my porch.

I checked the circuit breakers and they are all fine. None of the breakers are marked for the outside outlet. I turn the ones for the garage on and off and still nothing.

Does anyone have any ideas what might be causing this?

[Kenswing]

I just looked outside and noticed that my Christmas lights are not on. I checked the connections and found that there is no power coming from the outlet on my porch.

I checked the circuit breakers and they are all fine. None of the breakers are marked for the outside outlet. I turn the ones for the garage on and off and still nothing.

Does anyone have any ideas what might be causing this?
Check to see if you have a GFCI outlet that has tripped..

[dewilson58]

Check to see if you have a GFCI outlet that has tripped..

I agree, but I'm not an electrician.........or a dentist.

[Kenswing]

I agree, but I'm not an electrician.........or a dentist.But did you stay at a Holiday Inn Express?

[dewilson58]

But did you stay at a Holiday Inn Express?

:bigbow:

[redwitch]

Check the GFIs. The outdoor one is usually in the garage or one of the bathrooms (don’t ask).

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Check the GFIs. The outdoor one is usually in the garage or one of the bathrooms (don’t ask).


I should have thought of that because it used to happen to my house up north.

I just checked them all and still nothing. I'm going to have to look around to see if I have another BFI somewhere.

There are two in the kitchen, one in the master bath and one in the garage. They all seem to be working.

I also have outlets that are labeled GFCI but they have no reset switch on them.

Thanks for all the answers.

[Kenswing]

I should have thought of that because it used to happen to my house up north.

I just checked them all and still nothing. I'm going to have to look around to see if I have another BFI somewhere.

There are two in the kitchen, one in the master bath and one in the garage. They all seem to be working.

I also have outlets that are labeled GFCI but they have no reset switch on them.

Thanks for all the answers.
Sometimes they'll label outlets as GFI's but that just means they are on a GFCI leg. You need to find an outlet that has buttons..

[CFrance]

I agree, but I'm not an electrician.........or a dentist.
Did you play either one on TV?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Sometimes they'll label outlets as GFI's but that just means they are on a GFCI leg. You need to find an outlet that has buttons..

I found several that have two buttons. My GFIs up north had only one button. Ar the two buttons on and off or is there one for each socket? I assume that if the green light is on the outlet is working. Is that correct?

[dewilson58]

Did you play either one on TV?

Only on the big screen..............I repaired drills for dentists.

Two buttons...........One is a test, the other is the reset.

Green light means working.

Outside outlets are many times controlled in the garage.

[Kenswing]

I found several that have two buttons. My GFIs up north had only one button. Ar the two buttons on and off or is there one for each socket? I assume that if the green light is on the outlet is working. Is that correct?

One should be a "Test" button. The other is the "Reset" button..

The test button will kill the power to that circuit, the reset button will turn it back on.

If you see the green light you are good to go..

[Kenswing]

Only on the big screen..............I repaired drills for dentists.

Two buttons...........One is a test, the other is the reset.

Green light means working.

Outside outlets are many times controlled in the garage.
Or what he said.. :bigbow:

[JDIronton]

Most likely the GFCI in the garage, there might be a couple in the garage. And as said in previous response, one button for test and one for reset. If by chance it does not reset the receptacle might be bad, but most likely the sprinklers got to one of your lights and caused the GFCI to trip.

[Carl in Tampa]

This is an issue that we just faced last week. Both the outlets for the lanai (which was originally designed as a back porch) and the front porch were not working.

A friend came over and located two switches in the garage that reactivated the outlets, one for the front and one for the back.

They were not a part of the main breaker box, but were located independently elsewhere on the walls. One was on the wall with the breaker box and the other was on the opposite wall.

I wish I could tell you more, but I was not there when the friend came to the house to reset the switches, nor have I discussed it with him. Barbara relayed the information to me with the same aplomb that she employs when discussing anything electrical or electronic. (Read as "incomprehensible.")

But...........they are out there somewhere.

[Tom53]

I had the same problem the day after the hurricane, and went crazy checking everything. I had the electrical plan for the house and finally decided that I should try replacing the outlet. Picked up a new one at Ace, replaced it, and solved the problem. It worked for me, may work for you.

[Allegiance]

I had the same problem the day after the hurricane, and went crazy checking everything. I had the electrical plan for the house and finally decided that I should try replacing the outlet. Picked up a new one at Ace, replaced it, and solved the problem. It worked for me, may work for you.Definately take the plates off and check the power coming into the outlets, 1st dead outlet, then do the gfi switched outlets.

[N44125]

Our home came with an electrical wiring schismatic. Showed outlets that were controlled by which Specific GFI. You might have the same plan somewhere.

[villagetinker]

OP,
There can be multiple GFCI's in the garage, we have 3, check all of them, press the RESET button, if you hear a click, that is the one that was tripped.
There was a report about a house that had a GFCI by the A/C unit, and THAT one was also used for another outside receptacle.
There are some houses with GFCI circuit breakers, check these, turn fully off, then back to the on position.
As for the electrical wiring diagram, if your house is in Sumter County, you can go to the Goverment office (copper topped building) in Pinellas Plaza, and go to the building department, it should be on file.
As noted above, also check the bathroom and kitchen GFCIs, just in case the problem receptacle was tapped off one of these.
Also, you can go around the house with a lamp or circuit tester, and see if other receptacles are not working, this may help you figure out where the problem is.
Finally, is your lamp post light working? A neighbor had the wiring fail on theirs, which caused several other problems.
Hope this helps.

[mrdarcy]

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[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I found a GFCI outlet in the garage behind my workbench and it was off. I remembered that the light on my workbench did work last time I went to do something on it. I had to pull the workbench out to get at it, but hopefully the Christmas spirit will be back on display tonight.

[Allegiance]

I found a GFCI outlet in the garage behind my workbench and it was off. I remembered that the light on my workbench did work last time I went to do something on it. I had to pull the workbench out to get at it, but hopefully the Christmas spirit will be back on display tonight.

Congratulations! I don't know why, it's always in the last place you look.

Merry Christmas

[Kenswing]

I found a GFCI outlet in the garage behind my workbench and it was off. I remembered that the light on my workbench did work last time I went to do something on it. I had to pull the workbench out to get at it, but hopefully the Christmas spirit will be back on display tonight.
Glad you got it figured out.. :coolsmiley:

[Sparty6971]

Ah, the dreaded outlet hidden back behind something big, heavy, hard to move for any number of reasons. I have the "tripped" GFI issue every time we get the house exterior power washed and after hurricanes. After a couple of "trips" following routine rain, I opened up all the outside outlets that were down-stream from the master GFI receptacle with those two buttons and found a couple of them had a lot of corrosion and bug detritus around the wire attachment screws. I replaced those receptacles with new ones (and brightened the wire ends) and replaced the outlet's rubber water seal - still have an occasional problem (primarily the pressure washer) but nowhere near the number of problems in the past.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Glad you got it figured out.. :coolsmiley:


Well, I figured it out, but every time I reset the GFI it shuts off. I tried unplugging everything and resetting it and then plugging it back in and that doesn't work.

I wonder if it's the outside receptacle of the inside GFI receptacle. I think I might call an electrician. I don't know if I want to fool around with them myself.

[Kenswing]

Well, I figured it out, but every time I reset the GFI it shuts off. I tried unplugging everything and resetting it and then plugging it back in and that doesn't work.

I wonder if it's the outside receptacle of the inside GFI receptacle. I think I might call an electrician. I don't know if I want to fool around with them myself.
You might have water in one of your outside outlets or light fixtures that is causing a short. If you're not comfortable changing outlets or fixtures an electrician might not be a bad idea.