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I plugged in an extension cord into an exterior outlet (GFI) and heard click right away.The reason was to pump off water collected on pool cover,so obviously a short somewhere.Trying to reset GFI plug didn't work and it won't reset.Checked breakers and all are fine-non triggered although I.m not sure exactly which one regulates that circut.I have also discovered 2 other outlets not working as well (1 used for freezer! ) and must be on the same circut.Question: can the GFI be defective and if so can it cause these other 2 plugs to be inoperative as well until replaced.And is there a tester I can plug into one of these outlets to help locate the correct breaker so I can replace that GFI plug without getting shocked? Thanks, Les
Location: Sometimes Maryland, sometimes NoVA. Depends on the day of the week
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Sounds like your GFI is bad. The good (IMHO) ones fail-safe, that is they cannot be reset if the GFI is not longer providing ground-fault protection.
AS for the other outlets, yes, the GFI feeds (and protects) everything downstream. So the other two outlets are downstream of the GFI. Basements, garages, and outsides need to be on GFI, so probably your outside outlet is the first outlet in a circuit that runs to both the outside and the basement/garage (I'm guessing your freezer is on one of those places). So, it makes perfect sense that they aren't working. The outlets not working is not a function of the GFI being defective, but a feature of the wiring order. The GFI cuts off power to itself and everything downstream. Additionally, anything downstream will be protected from ground faults by the single GFI upstream.
You could try unplugging everything on the circuit, then trying to reset the GFI. If it still won't reset, then you will have to replace it. Also, its not uncommon for motors (i.e. your pump) to trip a GFI when it first comes on. Its just one of those nuisance trip situations, and why refrigerators are usually NOT on the GFI circuit, despite being in the kitchen (I could get into code technicalities here, but they don't really matter).
I'm not an electrician but did you check other GFI outlets. I ask because I had a situation in my other house where I lost power to certain areas of the house and sure enough I had to reset the GFI in a bathroom upstairs that you wouldn't of thought that they were connected.
I plugged in an extension cord into an exterior outlet (GFI) and heard click right away.The reason was to pump off water collected on pool cover,so obviously a short somewhere.Trying to reset GFI plug didn't work and it won't reset.Checked breakers and all are fine-non triggered although I.m not sure exactly which one regulates that circut.I have also discovered 2 other outlets not working as well (1 used for freezer! ) and must be on the same circut.Question: can the GFI be defective and if so can it cause these other 2 plugs to be inoperative as well until replaced.And is there a tester I can plug into one of these outlets to help locate the correct breaker so I can replace that GFI plug without getting shocked? Thanks, Les
Answer to all your questions is yes. GFCI devices can be wired to protect more than 1 recepticle. They can go bad but I would unplug everything in the involved recepticles and try resetting before replacing it. You need to be sure something plugged into it isn't causing it to do what it is designed to do. It it resets plug things in one at a time until you find the guilty party. There is a device that will find a circuit but mine plugs into the recepticle and will not work if GFCI is tripped. They also make inductive electricity finders. It will determine if circuit to the recepticle is live. That solution requires a friend to trip circuit breakers while you check at recepticle. To qualify myself, let me tell you I am not an electrician but I think I slept at aHoliday Inn once.
You dont necessarily have to use GFCI protection for heavy-current load starting items such as a freezer. That can be placed on its own 20-amp circuit.
Drinks are on me!Thanks for the input.I went and rechecked and unplugged all outlets involved.I actually for one more outlet,somewhat hidden,and found it was a GFI plug also that had tripped.I reset and went back out side and found power back on that outlet.So actually the orig.didn't trip;it was the one in the garage on the same circut that had tripped.Anyway;all's well and now re-freezing.Thank you very much!
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