Help! Electric Outlet Problem

[duffysmom]

One of my outlets has a red light on it and two buttons to reset. I have absolutely no idea what that means but the power to my lanai is not working and I think it has to do with that little red light on the outlet. It will not reset like the others when I press the reset button.:swear: Any ideas before I call an electrician and break the bank.:confused: Thanks

[Indydealmaker]

One of my outlets has a red light on it and two buttons to reset. I have absolutely no idea what that means but the power to my lanai is not working and I think it has to do with that little red light on the outlet. It will not reset like the others when I press the reset button.:swear: Any ideas before I call an electrician and break the bank.:confused: Thanks

I, also, am not electrically smart. Have you checked the breaker box in the garage to see if any have kicked out?

[Golfingnut]

Go and reset the power breaker in the garage that runs those outlets first, then come back and reset the outlet. They will not reset if the main breaker has tripped.

[duffysmom]

The main breaker box appears to be OK since everything in my house is working except the lanai outlets The outlet with the red light in the kitchen has the red light on but when I press it to reset it doesn't work like the others do.:rant-rave:

[rp001]

One of my outlets has a red light on it and two buttons to reset. I have absolutely no idea what that means but the power to my lanai is not working and I think it has to do with that little red light on the outlet. It will not reset like the others when I press the reset button.:swear: Any ideas before I call an electrician and break the bank.:confused: Thanks

It's called a GFCI..Ground fault circuit interrupter...Probably got wet in that rain today..No biggie....Check the breaker in the panel, look for one marked either lanai or gfci...Reset it and come back to the switch..push the button and wallah....Unless the outlet is still wet then it will just trip again...

[Bill-n-Brillo]

duffysmom, if there are things plugged into any of the outlets that are currently not working, unplug them all then push that button to see if the red light goes out - - - -
- If the light does go out, that tells you the circuit is good and that the issue has to be with one of the things that was plugged in. Start plugging them in one at a time til that GFCI shuts down - that'll tell you which item has an issue.
- If the light doesn't go out, then your problem is with the electrical circuit itself.

One way a GFCI receptacle will trip is if it senses a "different than normal" path of the current in the circuit. Something getting wet could be a good way for that to happen.

Hope that's of some help!

Bill :)

[elevatorman]

Also check the other outlets on the exterior of the house. They are all controlled by that one outlet with the red light (GFCI outlet). Our home has an outlet on each side of it. GFCI outlets are used where water may cause a problem. ie. kitchen, bathroom, outside.

[duffysmom]

First off thank you all for the great suggestions and information. My husband wasn't available so I was left with this task and that ain't a good thang.....
I did learn a great deal about how the electrical system works and what not to do.:shocked:

Anyway in my quest to solve the problem the power went out in part of my home so I was without computer and phone (comcast) and when hubby returned home he called SECO and they came late last night and fixed part of the problem (mainly the one I caused trying to fix the initial problem). Now we await an electrician who will fix a faulty GFCI which was the culprit.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.....

[Bruiser1]

:bigbow:It's called a GFCI..Ground fault circuit interrupter...Probably got wet in that rain today..No biggie....Check the breaker in the panel, look for one marked either lanai or gfci...Reset it and come back to the switch..push the button and wallah....Unless the outlet is still wet then it will just trip again...

Ground fault interupters are special protection so you don't "drop" applicance iin sinks or whatever. Also note some plug ins are connected to the ground fault interupter and may not have a reset on it. There may be small decal "gfci outlet" to identify it.

[kb8tpw]

You received several pieces of goof advise. I have had GFCI problems since the house was brand new. One GFCI can also afect a GFCI elsewhere in the house which makes it tough to sort out. Our house has one of the screwiest wiring paths I have ever seen. I'd like to get my hands on the guy that did the wiring ! Due to putting a outlet on my lawn light pole to power a flag pole light, which has to be a GFCI, I only complicated the situation. When I have a problem the first thing I do is check that GFCI regardless of where the problem seems to be. In recent weeks I have become on a first name basis with an electrician... he'll probably qualify as a dependent based on my support. My house is a ripe ole 2.5 years old, so I have walked in your shoes.

[k2at]

The gfi for the lanai is located most likely in the garage. Go in there and reset any interupters u come across in the garage. I don't know why they locate it there, but in both my houses that is where they are. If one trips u will get no juice on your lanai.

Gud Luk