Martina
Member
UPDATE:
Still unsolved, but I now have some additional information:
1. There is nothing wrong with the receptacle itself. I disconnected it and noticed that the 12/2 in and of itself has no power.
2. I replaced the breaker at the main panel today to see if perhaps that was the problem. After installation, I checked the screw terminal on the breaker and found it to be hot. I also used a voltage tester pen on said wire in the panel and everything seemed to be in order. Hopeful that the issue had been resolved, I made my way back into the house and to the outlet. Lo and behold, the 12/2 was still dead as a doorknob. I then took my voltage tester pen and ran it in intervals all along the wire in the attic to no avail. The whole line is dead. The only explanation I have at this point is that perhaps some critter chewed up the wire inside the wall cavity on the short run between the panel and the attic (about 6 feet). I could not find any visible damage along the entire wire in the attic. I have turned off the breaker for now.
Questions:
1. Aside from the possible critter scenario, could there be any other reason why the wire is hot at the panel and dead at the box?
2. Does anyone know if a Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor is required in residential homes by NEC? Based on what I've learned, those receptacles serve the mere purpose of protecting high-dollar office equipment. If there is no such requirement, I'm tempted to just disconnect the wire at the main panel and put a cover plate on the box, since we have many other outlets on that same wall.
Thanks for reading.
ORIGINAL POST:
Hello, everyone!
I recently noticed that an outlet in our office was not working. After checking the main breaker panel, I found a breaker titled "Lights Circuit" that had tripped. After resetting it, the outlet worked briefly, but then the breaker tripped again and this time a reset did not restore power to the outlet. The entire circuit appears to be dead. I inspected the outlet and noticed that it is a TVSS (something I'm not too familiar with). Anyhow, I traced the line in the attic and it appears that it originates at the main breaker panel and runs directly to the TVSS in the office. There are no other outlets connected to this circuit- just a single 12/2 running from breaker to outlet, that's it. Attached are three images of the outlet and breaker panel. Does anyone have an idea why the breaker keeps tripping and why there is now no power at all on that circuit? There is nothing plugged into that outlet, so this one really has me befuddled.
Thanks in advance for all forthcoming responses!
Martina
Still unsolved, but I now have some additional information:
1. There is nothing wrong with the receptacle itself. I disconnected it and noticed that the 12/2 in and of itself has no power.
2. I replaced the breaker at the main panel today to see if perhaps that was the problem. After installation, I checked the screw terminal on the breaker and found it to be hot. I also used a voltage tester pen on said wire in the panel and everything seemed to be in order. Hopeful that the issue had been resolved, I made my way back into the house and to the outlet. Lo and behold, the 12/2 was still dead as a doorknob. I then took my voltage tester pen and ran it in intervals all along the wire in the attic to no avail. The whole line is dead. The only explanation I have at this point is that perhaps some critter chewed up the wire inside the wall cavity on the short run between the panel and the attic (about 6 feet). I could not find any visible damage along the entire wire in the attic. I have turned off the breaker for now.
Questions:
1. Aside from the possible critter scenario, could there be any other reason why the wire is hot at the panel and dead at the box?
2. Does anyone know if a Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor is required in residential homes by NEC? Based on what I've learned, those receptacles serve the mere purpose of protecting high-dollar office equipment. If there is no such requirement, I'm tempted to just disconnect the wire at the main panel and put a cover plate on the box, since we have many other outlets on that same wall.
Thanks for reading.
ORIGINAL POST:
Hello, everyone!
I recently noticed that an outlet in our office was not working. After checking the main breaker panel, I found a breaker titled "Lights Circuit" that had tripped. After resetting it, the outlet worked briefly, but then the breaker tripped again and this time a reset did not restore power to the outlet. The entire circuit appears to be dead. I inspected the outlet and noticed that it is a TVSS (something I'm not too familiar with). Anyhow, I traced the line in the attic and it appears that it originates at the main breaker panel and runs directly to the TVSS in the office. There are no other outlets connected to this circuit- just a single 12/2 running from breaker to outlet, that's it. Attached are three images of the outlet and breaker panel. Does anyone have an idea why the breaker keeps tripping and why there is now no power at all on that circuit? There is nothing plugged into that outlet, so this one really has me befuddled.
Thanks in advance for all forthcoming responses!
Martina
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