WiremanWireman · Receptacle or circuit is dead: troubleshooting for electricians · 2023 NEC ·
Receptacle or circuit is dead
No power at an outlet or a group of outlets. Work through it from the panel to the box.
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How it works
Receptacles are usually wired in a chain. Power goes to the first one, then on to the next through its screws or push-in (back-stab) holes. When one connection loosens, everything after it goes dead. Many dead receptacles are actually downstream of a tripped GFCI in another room.
Every question and answer in this guide. Tap “Step by step” to walk through it.
- Check the panel. Is any breaker tripped?
- Yes, and it held when I reset itA tripped breaker
- Yes, and it trips againThe breaker won’t hold
- No tripped breakersPress TEST, then RESET, on every GFCI receptacle nearby. Did power come back?
- Yes, it’s backA tripped GFCI upstream
- A GFCI won’t resetA GFCI that won’t reset
- No changeIs the receptacle controlled by a wall switch?
- Yes, it works with the switch onA switched receptacle
- No, still deadTest: Measure at the receptacleExpect: About 120 V on both.
- 0 V on bothTest: Find the last working receptacle
- A loose, back-stabbed or burned connectionA failed connection at a receptacle upstream
- Everything looks tightA break in a hidden splice or the cable itself
- Hot–neutral 0 V, hot–ground 120 VOpen neutral on the branch circuit
- 120 V on bothThe receptacle has power; the problem is the contact or what’s plugged in
- Hot–neutral 120 V, hot–ground 0 VOpen ground (the receptacle works but isn’t grounded)
- 0 V on bothTest: Find the last working receptacle