Garage Electric Outlet. Need your help

[jerkbait]

I know the builder would not have a schematic. I know them personally and they did not do that. The subs were paid a set dollar amount for the type of house. There will not be any insulation in the garage attic unless DTRO specified that when the house was built.

[jeffreyd]

i had an issue with my newer house when we bought it. the outlet that was used at the end of the counter was not gfi even tho it was 15 ft from a water source. the inspector caught it, i called the builder and they came out and fixed, the house was 14 yrs old. might be a thought just to ask them or if you have a neighbor that has similar house see if they have the same outlet

[jerkbait]

That is a good idea. They usually put up a whole developement, usually 2-4 diefferent builders. Good possibility a nieghbor may have the same setup.

[soldoncass]

You know there is something weird about the house, maybe Dtro can shed some light on.....If it was built to sell (on speculation) , there usually were not any EXTRAS put in to drive the cost up. Maybe some "window dressing" stuff like different trim etc. for a model home....but, a 220 outlet in a garage doesn't fit, in my mind, for that. Something like that would be added, if a builder was going to live there a year or 2 maybe....but otherwise it seems like a custom house add-on to me. Dtro, did they build it for you, or did you buy it already finished?

[DTro]

It is a common bi-level house and the attic is uninsulated like stated above. I should have no problem cutting an access and checking things out.

The house was about 5 months old when we bought it.

[soldoncass]

Dtro,

Just had a thought, from my past....we did a custom house for someone that wanted an outlet on a switch inside the foyer closet. I think they did it for christmas lights outside, but the switch was inside closet. The same system could be set up for a "car plug-in outlet". One of the wires going to garage "could" go to this switch first and then to the outlet in question. Only 1 set of wires in outlet and NO continuity UNTIL you find that switch. It would be easy to bump a switch OFF in a closet.

[DTro]

A hidden switched outlet sure would make sense. I'll look tonight, thanks.

[DTro]

Well, I cut an access into the attic today. I found that there was a single line coming up from the location of the dead outlet, then across the ceiling and down the topplate about 6ft from where the subpanel is located and where the other wire comes up and over to the 240outlet.

Every thing looks in order as far as the wiring goes. The only thing I couldn't confirm is the area between the outlet and the attic and then where it actually goes to after the topplate over by the subpanel.

Common sense tells me that it does go to the subpanel, since I cannot find anything else that single pole breaker powers. However there is no continuity between the wire at that breaker and the dead outlet.

The white flag will be coming out shortly.

I guess I got an attic access out of the deal though.

[soldoncass]

I can certainly understand your frustration.....been there.....BUT, you are SO CLOSE. One more try?????????

It sounds like the wire comes up from the outlet, through a hole in the top plate (usually staight above it), goes across the ceiling joists, and through another hole in the top plate?(or does it go into the soffit area?) If it goes through a hole , but 6 feet away from the sub-panel top, I believe it goes someplace else first. They ALMOST always go directly down to the box.....not zig-zag around to get there. I'm assuming there is sheetrock on the subpanel wall, AND where the wire goes down 6' away? If it isn't taped, unscrew a sheet or 2, if it is taped, a decent size hole cut in good spots, will yield lots of info, AND be easy to patch. If the wire goes into the soffit, instead of a hole.....look hard again for an outlet box. Check outside soffit area for flood light or security box, etc.(could even be a box above soffit panel, NOT cut in).

I'm a "logic" kind of guy: are you SURE there isn't another outlet buried behind the sheetrock, directly below where the wire goes through plate? (check for bump in wall with a long level, at the outlet heighth. That sounds like a perfect spot for a construction outlet, and "could have" gotten covered...not cut out. That senario should have a gfci in it, also. Just think how great you will feel "when" you get it figured out. (pep talk #2) ha!

[DTro]

thanks man, you are keeping me motivated

yes, it goes down through a top plate on the back garage wall and not the sofit. I also thought that if it went to the panel it would be a straight down shot similar to the 220v wire and not 6ft away.

I'm thinking maybe drilling a hole in the top plate so that I could peer down and see where it is going? I have a bunch of pegboard on the wall in the area it comes down in and I hate to tear that off and pull down all the tools.

Still perplexed what the breaker on the subpanel powers.

[Surface Tension]

We know you have 14/2 to the other outlets.

What size is the mystery breaker? What size wire is coming off it and is it coming in the bottom, top, or side of the panel

What size wire is at the mystery outlet?

A box being buried is a good guess and if that is the case directly below where it goes through and down the top plate is a likely location. As mentioned put a long straight edge below that area. I'm guessing your outlets are 4' off the floor. From there to the panel. That would explain the dead outlet and a breaker to nowhere.

Something like that could be easily missed on the final inspection but would think the electrician would have caught it.

I still think you should ask the electrician that did the job.

[soldoncass]

NO white flags allowed ......red,white,and blue ONLY today!!!!!!!

I will hazard a "guess" then.....a covered up outlet under that pegboard. Try looking through the holes with a flashlight, straight down from that hole in the plate, and same height as other garage outlets (48" up). I don't think a small hole in the top plate is "peerable" May have to take 1 sheet of pegboard off to get too that area, unless it only comes down 4', then cut a hole under it and look/feel around in the wall.

[DTro]

I'll mess around with it today maybe, thanks. I actually do hope there is one there, because it would be a handy spot, and yes 4ft off the floor for my other outlets.

[soldoncass]

Red, white, and blue are the flags of the day.....NO white allowed.

Just like a bloodhound, getting close.......the scent is getting STRONGER. My "guess" is an outlet covered up by that pegboard. Try to look through those holes with a flashlight, same height as other garage outlets, and straight down under hole in top plate. If pegboard is only down 4', cut a hole under it and look/feel in the wall..... otherwise you probably need to take one sheet off to get to it. I can s-m-e-l-l it....a gfci under there.

NOW lets get some fishing done.......

[jerkbait]

My geuss is there is a GFCI behind the peg board.

[JacobMHD]

Well, I have officially become hooked to the outcome of this story. I can't believe I read the whole thing.

Any updates???

[DTro]

Sorry, too busy fishing. I'll be sure to post an update when I get one.

[jerkbait]

Have you solved the mystery yet?

[JohnMickish]

This thread is starting to slide down the list, time to take that peg board off.

[DTro]

I looked at it yesterday and knew I would "get the look" if I started pulling down the pegboard and cutting holes in drywall, while the wife is out there sweeping the floor.

Not to mention she was on the edge already because I told her she needed to get out of my gargage or else I'd go and rearrange her bathroom to see how it feels.

I got the "half look" and went fishing instead.

Maybe I can find some time to dig into it this week.....

[DTro]

Ok, so was able to take a look at it today, since I felt a little pressured from you guys

I put the pegboard on myself so I planned on taking off the pegboard and cutting a hole in the drywall to see where the wire is going.

I would've bet $1000 that I didn't cover up an outlet with the pegboard.

.....and I would've lost $1000

Just glad I did't pay someone to figure that one out. Simple press of the reset button. OUCH

Thanks to everyone who helped out here and kept me going. I now know what that extra circuit breaker powers

and it ain't going to happen again

[Redlantern]

That's too funny!

[Jim Almquist]

That's too funny!

+1

Glad to see it was a easy fix

[jwhjr]

Funny stuff, nice to see it was an easy fix That would have definitely been a bit embarrassing to pay someone to push the reset button for you...

[Sea Nymph 1]

I once drove from Houghton, MI to Sioux City, IA to press reset on a GFI for a Lowe's store. The manager was amazed I solved the problem so quickly. Iowegians.....