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What would make half of the lights and outlets on a circuit work while the other half go out?
Well, either they are NOT all on the same circuit...OR...theres a disruption of power to the remaining lights. Generally when installing multiple lights on the same circuit they'll be in parallel from the switch. There are min. 2 wires going to each light a "Hot" Conducter and a "Neutral" Conducter (forget ground for now). To graphically demonstrate whatsgoing on with your lights, get a piece of paper and pencil. Draw a Ladder that's sitting on its side. Make the Ladder have 4 steps. You should now be looking at 2 long horizontal lines with 4 vetical lines intersecting them. Name the top horizontal line "Hot" and the Bottom horizontal line "Neutral". From left to right name each of the four Vertical lines "L1, L2, L3, and L4" These signify your lights (if you had 4 lights). Now in between L2 and L3 make an X on the 2 Horizontal lines (the ladders legs). The "X" signifies whats preventing power from reaching your 3rd and 4th Lights. This Diagram also shows why your 1st and 2nd lights still work. What Id do is Check for a hidden switch somewhere, or Wire damage, or even a GFI socket (the plug in your bathroom above the sink with the Test/Reset buttons)....Find what "X" is and you'll solve your problem. -Good Luck!
What else can I help you with?
You are about to tackle adding wiring to your detached garage Can you safely have 4 outlets 2 interior and 3 exterior lights on one 120v 20A circuit?
While 7 is pushing the upper limits, the main concern should be "what will the outlets be running? If you're putting a freezer out there, it should probably be on a separate circuit. If you'll be running any high amperage equipment; again, put it on a separate circuit.
What if lights do not work but outlets work?
You probably blew the breaker for the lights. While usually the lights and outlets in a room are on the same breaker, it isn't always done that way. And you may have blown the light bulbs in the lights.
How to wire multiple GFCI outlets in a circuit?
To wire multiple GFCI outlets in a circuit, connect the line and load terminals of each outlet in parallel. The line terminals receive power from the source, while the load terminals provide power to downstream outlets. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and consult a professional electrician if needed.
Can Lights and outlets be on the same circuit?
Yes as long as the load is compatible with the wiring size and breaker protecting the circuit. Usually the lighting and outlets are separate just as a best practice, and new work may require separation depending on the locale.
Do you need a circuit breaker in a house?
1 for every 13 outlets, lights etc plus one for each major appliance ( heavy duty ) The minimum *required* number of circuit breakers will be dictated by your local building codes, so there is no one answer that will fit all. If you are planning on building or remodeling a house and are just interested in a back of the envelope estimate, keep in mind that up to a point, more circuits, and thus circuit breakers, are better than fewer. At a minimum, I would use a dedicated circuit for each of: - the furnace - the air conditioner - the refrigerator - the stand alone freezer - the basement lights (or the lights for where ever the breaker box is located) - the sump pump (if you have one) - the water pump (if you have one) - the garage door opener By using a dedicated circuit for each, you minimize the chance of a malfunctioning device or frayed extension cord causing the shut down a critical house hold system. From there it's a matter of how many rooms and outlets. For a family room with an entertainment center, computer equipment, etc., two circuits for the outlets and one for any overhead lights would not be unreasonable. On the other hand you might have two bedrooms share the same circuit for wall outlets and another shared circuit for the ceiling lights. If each room has its own air conditioner, the ideal situation is to locate an outlet by the window which is a circuit dedicated just for that air conditioner. As an aside, ground fault detectors are a must for the kitchen and bathroom, but use self contained ground fault outlets rather than a ground fault circuit breaker for these areas. Ground fault circuit breakers are best for outdoor circuits, like outdoor lighting, swimming pools, etc. While the building codes may dictate a minimum number of circuits needed, based on the size of the house, there is nothing to stop you from having more. What you will need to do however, is make sure you do not exceed the capacity of your electrical service. For that the services of a licensed electrician are highly recommended.
Why does your inside 4 outlet circuit randomly go off under no load only to come on again at random without tripping the breaker while outside lights on the same circuit stay on?
When your house was wired the outlets were probably wired using the stab in terminals on the back of the outlets, these tend to cause trouble over time.Turn off the power and rewire the outlets using the binding screw terminals.By chance if the outlets are wired on the binding screws, inspect all for loose joints.You may have to inspect every box and outlet on this circuit to find the problem. I once had a customer who was having a similar problem and it only showed up while playing the stereo very loud.We determined that the vibration was causing the stab in terminals to loose contact,we removed every outlet and switch and reconnected all by using the binding screws and the problem went away.Hope this helps.
Can you explain house wiring using electrical symbols and identify two simple circuits within a home?
Electrical symbols are used on electrical prints to show the location of devices that the architect would like located at specific spots. Two simple circuits in house wiring would be a receptacle circuit and a lighting circuit.
Is it a fuse problem if just installed lights on the hood to the turning signal circuit then after a while they and the dashboard lights went out in a '97 Ford Taurus?
Check your wiring and see if there is a bare spot in it to cause a fuse to blow. Check ALL of the fuses as it depends on what circuit you got your voltage from. If the lights you added require more power than the circuit you tapped into can supply, the extra load blows the fuse.
How can I safely install multiple GFCI outlets on the same circuit?
To safely install multiple GFCI outlets on the same circuit, you should connect the line side of each GFCI outlet to the circuit's power source and then connect the load side of each GFCI outlet to the next outlet in the circuit. This will provide individual protection for each outlet while ensuring proper functionality. It is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and consult a licensed electrician if needed to ensure proper installation and safety.
What is the difference between parallel circuit lights and series circuit lights using the idea of current flow?
Parallel circuit lights are built as so: ______light_______ |_____light_______| |_____battery_____| Series circuit lights are built like this: ___light___light___battery___ |________________________| In a parallel circuit, lights don't get dimmer when you add more, and if one breaks, the others still work. In a series circuit, when you add more, the lights get dimmer, and when one breaks, they all break. It is possible to have a combination of both in one circuit though.
What if your bathrooms outlets are not working 4 outlets but the circuit breaker is not fliped How do you figure out what the problem is?
Your bathroom outlets might be connected to a GFCI Outlet. The Ground Fault Circuit Intercept outlet prevents you from electrocuting yourself in the odd chance that you drop an electrical appliance into the water of the bath tub while you're in it. Look around and see if there's one outlet with 2 buttons on it labeled Test and Reset and if you find one hit the Reset button and see if the other outlets start working.
Can I use 12/2 wire for lights in my electrical installation?
No, it is not recommended to use 12/2 wire for lights in your electrical installation. It is typically used for general household outlets and appliances, while 14/2 wire is more suitable for lighting circuits.
