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Need info on the lights on a GFCI circuit tester

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Bud in NC

02-25-2007 11:41:15




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We're putting our house on the market so I started checking outlets. Fixed a bunch down stairs - contractor had reversed most of the hot and nutrals. I decided to check the "old" stuff upstairs - it's 9 years old. Everything checked right BUT the outside amber light flickers on several outlets. No wire nuts in the outlet boxes, the wire screws are tight on the outlet I checked and all the screws for the breakers, nutrals and grounds are all tight. The test light still looks like a dim strobe light. I used a regular yellow GB circuit tester and the red GB GFCI circuit tester. Both flickered.
Anyone got any ideas? The inspector is due here tomorrow at 9.
Thanks for any info!

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steve from mo - dangit!

02-27-2007 04:40:55




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 Smart move! in reply to Bud in NC, 02-25-2007 11:41:15  
Get that stuff settled up front so you don't have to try and negotiate at the last minute when everyone's ready to move and take some of your money to fix something that ain't broke. There are lots of crooks in the home inspection business.



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john hunt

02-27-2007 04:01:33




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 Re: Need info on the lights on a GFCI circuit test in reply to Bud in NC, 02-25-2007 11:41:15  
lose wire some where on the line or loseing light bulb ... would said it your ground side line where it at .. are the wire push in switch or wrap around the screw.. if there push in that could be problem, wrap them around post and tight them down should stop problem



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Paul from MI

02-26-2007 04:38:18




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 Re: Need info on the lights on a GFCI circuit test in reply to Bud in NC, 02-25-2007 11:41:15  
Since everything has been working OK, the problem is most likely a loose ground somewhere in the circuit. Check all of the junction boxes and if you don't find it look in the main panel. I just found a circuit at my neighbors yesterday that didn't have the ground hooked up inside the panel. Some of these shirttail electricians will do just abpout anything!
Paul



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MarkB_MI

02-26-2007 03:48:01




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 Re: Need info on the lights on a GFCI circuit test in reply to Bud in NC, 02-25-2007 11:41:15  
If the outlets are otherwise functioning, it pretty much has to be a poor ground connection. All a polarity checker does is test the voltage between the hot, neutral and ground connections of the outlet. Since it only takes a few milliamps to power the polarity checker, you don't need a very good connection for the lights to work.



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lahall

02-25-2007 12:46:26




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 Re: Need info on the lights on a GFCI circuit test in reply to Bud in NC, 02-25-2007 11:41:15  
I am a appliance tech. I see this all the time. If you go to a hardware store or electric supply you can purchase a polarity tester. It has a plug and on the other end 3 lights that light up indicating polarity of each wire and terminal. They also make them for 220 volts also.I hope this helps.



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Charles (in GA)

02-25-2007 19:10:32




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 Re: Need info on the lights on a GFCI circuit test in reply to lahall, 02-25-2007 12:46:26  
That is what Bud is using is a polarity tester, and a GFCI tester that has polarity lights also.

There is something amiss somewhere else in the circuit.

Charles



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Bud in NC

02-26-2007 03:11:21




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 Re: Need info on the lights on a GFCI circuit test in reply to Charles (in GA), 02-25-2007 19:10:32  
Looks like time for a quick crawl through the attic looking for a junction box with a loose wire nut, huh?
Thanks for the input -



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Bob

02-26-2007 07:57:35




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 Re: Need info on the lights on a GFCI circuit test in reply to Bud in NC, 02-26-2007 03:11:21  
What happens if you plug, say a 60 Watt lamp into the outlet?

Does that lamp "flicker"? Are the neon teat lights "stable" while the 6--Watt lamp is plugged in?



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Bud in NC

02-27-2007 03:09:15




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 Re: Need info on the lights on a GFCI circuit test in reply to Bob, 02-26-2007 07:57:35  
Everything works OK on those outlets, I've checked every onnection I can find - in the outlet, junction boxes in the attic, connections in the pannel - everything I've checked is tight! The only thing left that I can think of is possibly a wire is broken under a staple - and I can't see rewiting the house at this point. The inspector didn't mention it so I'm not going to get real stressed out about it.
The inspector noted 2 down spouts were loose from the drain lines and the gutters need to be cleaned. The down spouts are fixed and we'll clean the guttters this weekend so I guess we're still on go.

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