DIY Landlord tracking down a loose neutral wire.

I created this video with the KZbin Video Editor ( / editor )

[@billnahorn3939]

Really glad you said it could be in a light fixture, just never thought about looking there, thanks

[@ktoutdoor]

Thanks for watching. The light fixture fix was in a mobile home fyi. Text me if you need any help my cell 606-875-0125 Kevin

[@Nyck461]

Your video was the best that I watched about this problem. Today I also watched other videos about lose neutral but you was the best. At 5:40 you mentioned about "watch other KZbin videos" but I would be very careful about what kind of video makers you are watching. Before watching your video I watched another one where the video maker showed everything except how to resolve the issue. Great video. Congrats.

[@ktoutdoor]

Thank you for the kind words it made my day.. Was you able to fix yours?

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

had to track down a lose H the other day, thankfully i knew which outlets were in that circuit. Just went by each one that was working until the next was dead then opened those 2 up and found a broken H leg ... Easy fix

[@vince6829]

Great example of a loose neutral. Thank you for sharing.

[@ktoutdoor]

Thanks for watching

[@RWang-zr6cn]

Outstanding teaching, really helped regular people.

[@afterjunkllc1320]

Great video. Very helpful. Thank you.

[@nevrbdwnruby7484]

I'm an electrcian, did not undersand how you gave tempower to the lights when you jumped it... I came back to this video and I understand it now... You used the ground as an effective ground fault current path which your not suppose to do but in this case of situation I can understand.. The ground is bonded to neutral which is a way to see and troubleshoot, I see now.. Ty

[@michaelhiggins7365]

Excellent real-world video and very helpful. Well done you !

[@ktoutdoor]

Thank you for the kind words. Have a blessed day.

[@ctingermann9365]

Informative video with good content. Only complaint is troubleshooting lice electrify with non rubber wedding band on poses potential short/ electric shock hazard.

[@ktoutdoor]

Thank you for contributing

[@kevinrobinson1357]

thank you! straight to the point!

[@frankw9836]

Every time I turned on the microwave the light was flickering and the fuse in the plug blew..I thought it was a faulty light bulb. Ordered a new one for £16 changed it but same problem 😮 I decided to open the socket and found a loose cable , screwed it tight and problem solved . How can the wire get lose after years ?? Just noticed that my Coffee grinder (which was on the same socket) doesn't work anymore. Not only i wasted £16 on a new bulb the loose wire also blew up my Coffee grinder £50

[@ktoutdoor]

Thank you for contributing

[@tommywatterson5276]

Wouldn't a receptacle tester you plug in tell you if receptacle is wired right and tell you if it's operating right...that one would be the problem if it's not working right

[@ktoutdoor]

No, that wont help because the receptacle tested good power coming in but loose neutral wire going out to feed the next receptacle down stream was the problem

[@ronaldcarels1059]

This was my issue exactly! Thank you for the help!

[@981porsche3]

Kevin Caudill: Yup, that’s my problem. Thanks for the vid!

[@ktoutdoor]

Thanks for watching

[@Steezyy]

That panel makes me anxious

[@blokey5160]

Pigtail connections to the receptacle would be a better way to daisy chain them.

[@ktoutdoor]

I concur with your assessment

[@glasshalffull2930]

Seriously, it ‘should’ be code to pigtail. It’s just so much better. This could have been a receptacle buried behind boxes in the garage and taken hours to find.

[@eeeeyyyyy101]

im becoming a pigtail fan as i go along 😐🤨

[@grantscott1686]

what's that jumper thing and how was it able to turn the lights on?

[@ktoutdoor]

At what time stamp ?

[@Bwh-rm3py]

Would a bad neutral cause me led lights to flicker constantly? I thought it was the light but I brought the fixture to work and plugged it in and it works fine

[@ktoutdoor]

Yes a loose neutral or hot wire could do the same

[@keithharrington8715]

This house highlights the cost effective way they wired this house. Gfci recepticles can provide protection for many recepticles or just the one. S, if you are building/wiring a house, give consideration to where you put them. If you are outside working in the dirt on this house, you have to travel through the house to reset your gfci. The outside recepticle could be a gfci and prevent dirt everywhere. The second bathroom could have its own. It is all about the connections to the gcfi. Please research it well or ask a pro.

[@ktoutdoor]

Thank you for contributing Keith

[@MegaRiffraff]

I have rentals also , if i encounter a back stab working or not , i remove it, also be aware of live neutral’s , i have encountered them-in houses from 70s and 80s , first one was a shocking experience 🤕

[@ktoutdoor]

Thank you for contributing.

[@mattcatalano7215]

I think that’s a Federal Pacific Circuit Breaker Box best to get rid of that. Causes house fires get square d or GE

[@ktoutdoor]

You are correct there are a lot of those in the area. Scary for sure.

[@steveallen3690]

I’ve got an open ground. I have pulled all outlets on circuit and all is good. Checked breaker box tightened all . Still open ground. Any suggestions?

[@ktoutdoor]

Yes give me a call 606-875-0125 Kevin

[@carllaura7903]

Helped so much. Appreciate it!

[@ktoutdoor]

Thanks for watching

[@videosrfun4me189]

REPLACE any receptacle that has the wire push in ports. use screw tightening mount only.

[@KE5ZZO]

Best practice is to hook Outlet up to pigtail so not depend on outlet to pass thru hot and neutral to other outlets down stream….

[@ktoutdoor]

Thank you for contributing and I concur

[@timmack2415]

I HATE using those back stab connectors. I've been an electrician for 35 years and I cannot begin to tell you all of the problems I find from those backstab outlets. I urge everyone... Never, ever use them.

[@ktoutdoor]

Thank you Tim for contributing with 20 rental properties I see this problem more than I want...

[@MamasFunkyMonkey]

Lol except people that are expected to work fast or piece work..... back stab the shit out of the devices 🎉

[@RileyAndBella-g8]

@@ktoutdoorin Russia we have backstab connections

[@allenjay6065]

It is a lazy electrician that uses the 'push-in' connections on an outlet. The push-ins do not carry the current that the terminals do. You should take your needle nose pliers, hook the conductor and put it under the terminal screw in a clock wise rotation. Best if the conductor is completely under the terminal screw head. Newer outlets have square head terminals giving better torque.

[@ktoutdoor]

I agree thank you for contributing.

[@user-sj1tt3ie3z]

.........didn't your original receptacle also have screws on it's side to secure wires? Anyhow, very thoughtful of you for warning others to be safe, as some of your unknowledgeable viewers may not notice themselves poking their dedos into 230 volt location.

[@bigdaddy4975]

GFI isn’t supposed to trip the breaker unless the breaker itself is a gfi.

[@outlet6989]

I have a GFIC at the beginning of my three light circuits. Each light run uses a separate wall switch. Worked great for many years. I noticed a "Popping" sound coming from the breaker box. Then the lights went dead. A breaker box inspection showed a fried common wire at the bus. I connected all load and common wires into separate connectors using a plastic multi-connector. They then connect to the GFIC receptacle. Could my problem be the GFIC? If I disconnected the common wires from the multi-connector, would I be able to find which common wire is causing the problem?

[@ktoutdoor]

Give me a call or text to 606-875-0125 Kevin

[@toupsclassroomtoupsclassro9557]

Nice Video and Good Neighbor ............question: gf's business closet light pull chain..............two blacks tied and two whites tied............both with a pig tail to light fixture. I disconnected the fixture and shut the power but still have 4 volt...........i'm told there is a lost neutral? does this sound right and best way to track it down any help would be appreciated ty

[@ktoutdoor]

I need more info give me a call 606-875-0125 Kevin

[@greenpants3]

Thanks.

[@bbigjohnson069]

It looks like there are two black wires going to the top of that center switch. If so that's a big no no.

[@NeoAndersonReloaded]

I just had to fix this. Loose neutrel was in a different room.

[@ktoutdoor]

Yes they can be time consuming to locate.

[@dansanger5340]

Worst is when the loose neutral is intermittent, which is what I'm dealing with now. I thought I had fixed it, and then a few hours later I got a call that it was out again. It's always the push connectors that go bad. I hate those things! One of the problems is that they are designed for 14 gauge wire only, and people jam in the bigger 12 gauge wire, which is what I think happened to the outside outlet in your video. But, I don't trust them for 14 gauge, either. On the inside box, it looked like there might have been multiple wires under the same screw. You're only supposed to have one wire per screw. It's one of those things where it can work fine for a while, and then stop working years later. Worse, it can cause arcing, which creates heat and can melt things. Ideally, you would create a pigtail in this situation and then run one wire to the switch or outlet. I like to use clamp connectors such as Wago, but wire nuts also work. But, I think Wago are more idiot proof for people like me.

[@ktoutdoor]

Thank Dan for taking the time to contribute your knowledge, your comments will help me and others as well, have a blessed day.

[@c.a.1464]

Having this problem myself... thought I had it all working this morning. came back this evening and lights don't work again @#!!#

[@cspill99]

how would a light fixture cause this problem? One of the outlets is giving off both hot for the black and white wires. The tester displayed loose neutral. Can you help?

[@ktoutdoor]

Yes just call or text my cell 606-875-0125 I stay up till 3 am eastern time

[@cspill99]

@@ktoutdoor Thanks I'm in Michigan. I'll text or call later when I'm in front of the issue.

[@nickromanowski4724]

Having the same problem with KT wiring in my house. Wife was using a blowdryer on an extension cord and now a bunch of random things arent working. Trying to figure it out now.

[@ktoutdoor]

@@nickromanowski4724 give me a cell 606-875-0125 Kevin

[@cspill99]

@@nickromanowski4724 loose connection somewhere. Check all the junction boxes.

[@swervomatic]

Well done. How long do you think it would have taken you to find that outside receptical connection if the panel wasn't labeled lol? Nightmare

[@ktoutdoor]

True but I have learned to check all outside and garage receptacles they seam to be shared a lot with any GFI between the bathroom and the breaker box.

[@carlosgarciaphoto]

Is this in the USA? Does the receptacle in the bathroon has a 14-2 instead of a 12-2? Would you expand on your desition to install a regular receptacle outdoors instead of a WR receptacle, please.

[@everythinghomerepair1747]

Yes, this looks like the U.S. We did use to power bathrooms with 14-2. Crazy right? Nowadays there is a code in the NEC that requires 12-2 for bathrooms. He used a regular receptacle instead of WR which is technically a violation but in reality probably 98% or U.S. houses have non-WR receptacles outside.

[@levitch]

great video. This is really helpful. could a bad ground connection cause a loose neutral also?

[@ktoutdoor]

I don't think so you could have a loose ground and the lights would still work but it would not be safe.

[@victorseaton9123]

No. That would be an open ground. Neutral is a path back to panel to complete a circuit. A disconnected ground will still allow an outlet to function, just won’t allow a path back to ground during faults. You could become the path back to ground.

[@TheHandymanLife777]

Thank you now that will be 500.00 dollars 💸

[@blendisimoni3203]

If I'm not wrong the old outlet had wrong wiring

[@carsonconlee6277]

The only issue is that panel! If it’s red, your dead.

[@ktoutdoor]

I know what you mean

[@816Souljah]

FYI NEC says exterior outlets must be GFCI.

[@ktoutdoor]

Yes and it is GFCI protected at the breaker . Not at the receptical.

[@816Souljah]

@Kevin Caudill okay, great 👍.

[@WeMe83]

Nope. NEC says exterior outlets must be gfci protected. Big difference.

[@glasshalffull2930]

Not sure everyone is on the same page. NEC 210.8 (F) “GFCI protection is required on dwelling unit outdoor outlets. “ It does NOT specify that the exterior receptacle be a GFCI receptacle. So the GFCI protection could be at the breaker or an upstream receptacle or it could be the actual exterior receptacle. IMHO, since GFCI receptacles are sensitive electronics, it would actually be a good idea to have the GFCI protection from a GFCI breaker or a GFCI receptacle on an upstream interior location.

[@spudman9367]

Pig tailing your wires, especially the neutrals will eliminate most of these problems

[@everythinghomerepair1747]

Yeah if the pigtail is done correctly. There is just as much of a chance of a loose pigtail as a loose receptacle screw. I’ve seen it before where someone pigtailed the outlets but still ended up with a loose connection do to poorly done pigtails. The moral of the story is make your connections tight and there won’t be any problems. To pigtail or not is up to the installer.