AC outlet trouble shooting and 2 hole -> 3 hole, possible?

[T.T.]

Hi, there:

Sorry for these two basic questions as I don't really know too much
about basic electronics... here is what I'm trying to do:

1. I found a dead AC outlet (see photos here:
http://www.picturetrail.com/acoutlet/).. how do I trouble shoot and
find out what's wrong with this AC outlet? I have checked the fuse and
the circuit breaker box and it was OK. Usually for a technician, what
would they do (and what kind of tools are used) to trouble-shoot a AC
outlet??

2. For this type of old "2-hole" AC outlet, is it possible that I
could replace it with a modern "3-hold (with ground)" AC outlet?? Is
there any step-by-step (with photo) DIY guide for doing such a task?
Also, is it tough to physically "move" the AC outlet to some other
places?

3. on this Web site (http://www.picturetrail.com/acoutlet/) on the
left hand side, the 3rd photo is a circuit box that was originally
covered with a blank plastic panel... could anyone recognize exactly
what kind of "wiring" it is for? I don't think it's phone jack wiring,
so I guess it should be AC wiring although I'm not totally sure.. any
idea??

Thanks again for your help!

 

[CFoley1064]

Subject: AC outlet trouble shooting and 2 hole -> 3 hole, possible?
From: hotister@hotmail.com (T.T.)
Date: 3/5/2004 1:14 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id: <50b04b61.0403042314.52e29ddd@posting.google.com

Hi, there:

Sorry for these two basic questions as I don't really know too much
about basic electronics... here is what I'm trying to do:

1. I found a dead AC outlet (see photos here:
http://www.picturetrail.com/acoutlet/).. how do I trouble shoot and
find out what's wrong with this AC outlet? I have checked the fuse and
the circuit breaker box and it was OK. Usually for a technician, what
would they do (and what kind of tools are used) to trouble-shoot a AC
outlet??

2. For this type of old "2-hole" AC outlet, is it possible that I
could replace it with a modern "3-hold (with ground)" AC outlet?? Is
there any step-by-step (with photo) DIY guide for doing such a task?
Also, is it tough to physically "move" the AC outlet to some other
places?

3. on this Web site (http://www.picturetrail.com/acoutlet/) on the
left hand side, the 3rd photo is a circuit box that was originally
covered with a blank plastic panel... could anyone recognize exactly
what kind of "wiring" it is for? I don't think it's phone jack wiring,
so I guess it should be AC wiring although I'm not totally sure.. any
idea??

Thanks again for your help!

House wiring isn't too difficult, but there's a very steep learning curve if
you make a mistake. You might want to offer a friend who knows something about
electrical wiring a case of their favorite libation to spend an hour showing
you what's going on.

Good luck, and be safe
Chris

 

[the Wiz]

hotister@hotmail.com (T.T.) wrote:

Hi, there:

Sorry for these two basic questions as I don't really know too much
about basic electronics... here is what I'm trying to do:

1. I found a dead AC outlet (see photos here:
http://www.picturetrail.com/acoutlet/).. how do I trouble shoot and
find out what's wrong with this AC outlet? I have checked the fuse and
the circuit breaker box and it was OK. Usually for a technician, what
would they do (and what kind of tools are used) to trouble-shoot a AC
outlet??

2. For this type of old "2-hole" AC outlet, is it possible that I
could replace it with a modern "3-hold (with ground)" AC outlet?? Is
there any step-by-step (with photo) DIY guide for doing such a task?
Also, is it tough to physically "move" the AC outlet to some other
places?

3. on this Web site (http://www.picturetrail.com/acoutlet/) on the
left hand side, the 3rd photo is a circuit box that was originally
covered with a blank plastic panel... could anyone recognize exactly
what kind of "wiring" it is for? I don't think it's phone jack wiring,
so I guess it should be AC wiring although I'm not totally sure.. any
idea??

Thanks again for your help!

1. Dead outlets have several likely causes:

bad/missing fuse, tripped circuit breaker
(unless the fuse/breaker box has current markings, you'll need
a circuit tracer to verify how things are *actually* wired)

wiring disconnected to be used elsewhere

damaged wiring (during other work - drills and saws are
bas news for wiring)

outlet controlled by a switch
(so that's what that switch is for???)

2. Unless the needed ground wire is included in the run to the outlet box, you
can't do a proper replacement.

3. That box is a junction where the AC wiring changes direction. In this case,
the wiring makes a 90 degree turn, which you can't pull directly. The wire is
pulled from some starting point (fuse/breaker box) to this junction box (think
of a big pile of wire on the floor), then the wire is pulled to it's
destination.
It might be possible to add an outlet there, but you need someone knowledgeable
to check things on-site to verify what's safe (and maybe what's legal in your
area) My city will issue me a permit to do wiring in my own home, but the
wiring must pass inspection by a city electrical inspector. Not all
jurisdictions allow this. I did get one question from the inspector: "Are you
an electrician?"

Moving an outlet is subject to the same conditions as putting an outlet in the
junction box.

More about me: http://www.jecarter.com/
VB3/VB6/C/PowerBasic source code: http://www.jecarter.com/programs.html
Freeware for the Palm with NS Basic source code: http://nsb.jecarter.com
Drivers for Pablo graphics tablet and JamCam cameras: http://home.earthlink.net/~mwbt/
johnecarter at@at mindspring dot.dot com. Fix the obvious to reply by email.

 

[Peter Bennett]

On 4 Mar 2004 23:14:09 -0800, hotister@hotmail.com (T.T.) wrote:

Hi, there:

Sorry for these two basic questions as I don't really know too much
about basic electronics... here is what I'm trying to do:

1. I found a dead AC outlet (see photos here:
http://www.picturetrail.com/acoutlet/).. how do I trouble shoot and
find out what's wrong with this AC outlet? I have checked the fuse and
the circuit breaker box and it was OK. Usually for a technician, what
would they do (and what kind of tools are used) to trouble-shoot a AC
outlet??

Are the working outlets in the house the more modern 3-hole type? If
so, the house has probably been re-wired, and these dead outlets were
just abandoned.

I would look in the basement below the dead outlets to see if I could
see the wires that go to them - then trace the wires away from the
outlets and see if they get anywhere near the breaker panel.

2. For this type of old "2-hole" AC outlet, is it possible that I
could replace it with a modern "3-hold (with ground)" AC outlet??

Yes - but you would probably have to run new wiring to the outlet as
well, to get a ground connection to it.

Is
there any step-by-step (with photo) DIY guide for doing such a task?

Probably - look at Home Depot or other home improvement place (or a
library).

Also, is it tough to physically "move" the AC outlet to some other
places?

Not so much move as remove old and install new, then patch up the
mess.

You may require an electrical permit from the city to do such work,
and the work must comply with any applicable electrical code rules.
If you are not familiar with electrical wiring, you should probably
consult an electrician to get it done right.

3. on this Web site (http://www.picturetrail.com/acoutlet/) on the
left hand side, the 3rd photo is a circuit box that was originally
covered with a blank plastic panel... could anyone recognize exactly
what kind of "wiring" it is for? I don't think it's phone jack wiring,
so I guess it should be AC wiring although I'm not totally sure.. any
idea??

Looks like AC wiring to me. The box is just used as a "pull box" to
help get the wiring around a corner. (and the fact that this box is
there makes me suspect that the house has been re-wired at some time.)

Thanks again for your help!

--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
peterbb (at) interchange.ubc.ca
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