Troubleshooting & Repairing Consumer Electronics Without a Schematic (TAB Electronics)
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Home Electrical Troubleshooting Videos
When troubleshooting a hot water heater, first identify if it’s a gas or electric heater; then, check the pilot light on a gas water heater and the circuit breakers on an electric heater. Fix minor problems on a gas or electric water heater using this free video from a home repair specialist on maintaining and fixing houses. Expert: Tim Gipson Contact: www.inhisstepsremodeling.com Bio: Tim Gipson is a home repair specialist and remodeling contractor in Franklin, Tenn. Filmmaker: Tim Brown
Video Rating: 4 / 5
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Up early w/ Dad for day 2 of home electrical project. New breaker box in yesterday, now troubleshooting a couple outlets 2day. – by jgrantmarshall (Jason Marshall)
FAQ about Home Electrical Troubleshooting
Question by akbecky23: We need some help in home electrical troubleshooting.?
The garage was wired 3 years after the house. It worked great for a while and now, nothing. No outlet, switches or anything have power. Where do we begin the troubleshooting, and what so we need to use?
Best answer:
Answer by loup-garou
First start at the subpanel for the garage if there is one (there should be if it wasn’t a bootleg wiring job).
Check there or at the main panel for thrown circuit breakers or blown fuses.
Reset or replace, and if the circuit shuts off again you probably have a short some place.
Check the draw of all you have on the circuit against the rating of the circuit protection. Has stuff been added over the years like a freezer, electric door opener, etc. etc.?
If the circuit protection is OK, you probably have an open circuit. To check you will need to trace out the wiring. First shut off the circuit then make a visual inspection of all the wiring and connections you can get at.
If that does not show a problem, turn the circuit back on and start checking as close to the panel or subpanel as you can with a VOM. You can get them pretty cheap. If you do not have experience working with electricity, get help. Getting killed can ruin you whole week.
What do you think? Answer below!
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
this video actually helped me. =] thank youu!!
im a 20 year old girl that knows nothing about this stuff; so this really helped ME A LOT!
Never light a gas appliance without taking a deep breath and holding it first. If the appliance flashes/explodes on you or in your face, the flames will not be able to go in your lungs. This is due to your involuntary bodily function of flintching and sucking air in your lungs when you do. Very important with all GAS/LPG appliances, especially OLDER ones. Been there done that, be careful!
Why would I listen to this guy with the Temperature and Relief at and angle like vhinz72 said,and most local codes say it must terminate 6 inches from the floor or piped outside.You may want to do Take2 on this vid..
Nice video! But i would like to suggest to put a strap on your water heater & move away your pressure relief line away from your gas valve just for safety.
or u can read the directions on the sticker
this guy is something
Is it not Illegal to “Home maintain” your GAS boiler????
I would have to agree with you.
I hope that igniter lasts longer than the one on my grill, and my friend’s grill, and every other grill I have ever seen. I think I’ll stick with my 30 yr. old water heater. I don’t have a little inspection window, I have about a 12 x 12 opening through which not only can I inspect for a pilot light, but I can also walk in and re-light the burner myself.
That was fuckin useless…………that’s not trouble shooting, That’s like saying OH is your tv not working? “well i’ll tell you how to fix it, What i’m going to ask you to do is……. go ahead and plug that sucker into the wall, Now try it, that should solve most of youe problems”. shoot yourself
Check in the circuit breaker box and see if you have any of them flipped. (Or fuses blown if you have the old type)
Well, start off with your fuse box. Are any tripped or blown? If so, switch on or replace fuse. If not, you’ll need to start tracing wiring from your garage to your panel. You could have a hosed wire somewhere along the route back or a splice could have come loose some how. Initially you’ll only need your eyes. Nothing special… Well, just make sure what you’re testing your garage circuits with works (hairdryers, lightbulbs or etc…).
First thing is check breakers. If nothing is on at all I fear it was wired from an existing circuit all on one. Do you have a sub panel? Also check to make sure one of the breakers isnt GFCI with the buttons in the middle. If this is tripped and supplies power to everything else easy fix. If not I would hire someone to come take a look.
If you check all the circuit breakers and sub-panels, and still can’t find a tripped breaker, you may have a GFCI (ground fault circuit interruptor) outlet that tripped.
In an area that is subject to water (outdoor sockets, in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry areas, etc.), building codes require that the electrician install at least one GFCI outlet to supply the electricity to that kind of area. If the GFCI breaker trips, all of the electrical outlets – and overhead lights, if they’re connected to that circuit – will go dead until the GFCI outlet is reset.
A GFCI outlet has two little buttons on it, usually between the two outlets: one is a Test button and the other is a Reset button. Locate all of the outlets in the garage and look for a GFCI breaker. If you find it, press the Test button and then the Reset button (you should feel a distinctive click, like when you reset a circuit breaker). Then check your outlets for power again.
You start at the breaker panel you need a multimeter to find out if you have a bad breaker , loose or burnt wire. If you have not done it before call an electrician. Its not worth getting electrocuted over. Safety first.
I agree it is probly a GFCI
There may be a miriad of problems here!! if you don’t kow wiring methodologies, and proper troubleshooting of maincircuitry, get a licensed electrician.
I take it you have checked any GFCI devises to reset any that have tripped?
Start where the wiring for the garage starts. In the main panel in the house. Look for a tripped breaker or blown fuse leading to the garage. Check for voltage going out with a voltmeter. Go into the garage and open the first devise or box the power comes into from the house. Use the voltmeter to check for voltage.