I went to bed thinking, "Geeez, it would be great if someone, ANYONE, had a website that dealt with situations like this.." Well boy do you have that site! In spades! It's perfect! I love it! One Google search under "Troubleshooting home wiring" and bingo! Thank you so much. I'll tell all my friends about it... Keep up the good work! Nicely designed site. Tom -NY
I thought I knew a thing or 2 about wiring... I guess I was wrong... I was battleing this for 3 hours madder than a no legged kangaroo!! Anyway, after studying your schematics on your website, I sat back in my computer chair and said OHHHHHH!!!! Thats how it works!! And I jumped up and fixed my problem before my wife got home!!! Thanks again for such a great website!!!! best regards!! Steven
I'm new to electricity but an avid DIYer, and your site has helped me to understand FAR more about how the electrical system works in my home. It is straight-forward and simple enough for even we "electrically-challenged" to grasp quickly, while providing the answers to many otherwise confusing situations we encounter every day. You should consider writing a book!
Best residential web site on the web! I ordered your book. Good job. -Rain
I did a little research and found your site to be the most valuable! I had a problem with a GFI outlet that would not reset. Apparently, when I weed-wacked the lawn the other day, I left the outside outlet open and it rained. Your site was the only one that had the information to fix the problem - as simple as it was. Suzanne -FL
Ahh, it's so refreshing to see a web site such as "The Circuit Detective". It is so "above board"... Love the site, the advice, honesty, the rates and options for contacting you, etc. I even love the trenchcoat. Thanks for creating / maintaining such a helpful resource in a sea of rip off artists and scams. -Scott, WA
Thank you for all your help. I found a short between two wall sockets, apparently when they installed the exterior shutters 3 years ago the drove a wood screw into the wire run. Heath -MI
Excellent and clear guide on diagnosing ( in my case ) a random GFI issue. -Mark, UK
Fantastic web page, hat's off on a rarely logical page as well as process. An entire circuit died months ago, tried the beaker swap to no avail and other futile efforts... finally it dawned on me to try the net, after 10 minutes of reading your page I went outside and found some creative wiring 3 feet of wire hanging on the ground with an exposed box, no idea how many years that was there. It was completely corroded, cut it off secured the wiring and bingo. The wife is going to be so pleased. -Albert, AZ
Your site walked me through my problem... Thanks for providing a great resource. Note that before this project I didn't even know what "line", "load", "GFI", "neutral" or "hot" even meant. -Keith
Thanks for the great website. But more importantly, thanks for saving me about $90 and a bit of embarrassment. I had what I thought was an open one of my home's circuits. Within five minutes, of troubleshooting the problem on your site, I had the problem diagnosed AND fixed. It turned out to be a tripped GFI in the circuit. -Manny, OR
I just wanted to thank you for the information found on your website! I was completely baffled by my problem... I was reminded of the old adage - "when in doubt, follow the directions." You provided the directions. -Ron, AK
This is just feedback about our problem that I solved after reading your web site. The site is really excellent, thanks for the great resource!! It seemed like there was an over-voltage condition in our kitchen, and what tipped me off was the stove igniters would click SUPER fast and loud when lighting a burner. I measured 220 volts at that outlet. We unplugged everything in the house and spent Sunday morning on the internet trying to educate ourselves as to what could cause this. Your site is by far the best resource we found! -Craig
I haven't installed a GFCI receptacle since 1994 and boy have they changed! Nowhere else on the internet could I find the information you had about Leviton GFCI's and how hard they are to reset and how they have to be ON to reset. I would have gone all over the circuit making a fool of myself looking for the problem in all the WRONG other places!... Really, thanks a TON! You're the Best! -Ogn, WA
This is an awesome site I just discovered tonight. You definitely have gone way beyond the typical things that something like my Home Depot Wiring book goes into. -Derek, CA
Thanks again for your help. You run a valuable service, believe me. In my area there are not a lot of what I would call honest electricians and I think the format you use to offer help to homeowners is excellent. -Dan
Thank you Larry!! Today you saved my night and probably half of tomorrow. One of my GFI plugs kept tripping even after everything in the series was unplugged. I was freaking out because I know very little about electricity except the fact that it could kill me. Anyway googled GFI plugs and found your web site. Within ten minutes I had found the problem. My daughter had been watering plants and had soaked an outdoor outlet (the waterproof cover was open). -Lanny, TX
They were all telling me things that did not seem to make sense (put bigger breakers, change the whole panel and so on) because my whole house was flickering , dimming and/or getting boosted when appliances were starting... There was no way I could trust one of them and pay hundreds to have them probably not fix my problem and may be even creating more problems! I felt like a was living like a cave woman unpluging everything everytime I needed to use a power tool so I would not take a chance to zap my fridge... I went on your site last Sunday and found out within about 15 to 20 minutes that the main neutral from the power company could be bad and I called them. They came within 45 minutes and fixed the problem at no charge... I am so glad I waited and found your website! You make it so easy to understand electricity! -Sandy, AZ
LARRY ! It is 3 am. I just got back from work (playing with my band at a wedding.) I read your email and decided to keep looking for GFI`s I might have missed. In my search I found two more that I missed of which one was in the guest bathroom. I reset the GFI, went to the garage and the outlets WORK !!! I am So frikkin` happy that I think I`ll celebrate with a beer !!... You have been such a help. I have told many friends about your service and would recommend you in a second. -Hal, PA
Last night I used what I learned from your site to diagnose and fix a multiple switch, fixture and outlet problem I was having on a house I am about to sell. It turns out, one of the nearby working outlets in the room had a loose backstab wire. I followed your directions to plug in a light in one of the failing outlets and then jostling wires in each working outlet until I found the one that was not working. Thanks for saving me a load of money! -Lou
Your site was PERFECT for helping me troubleshoot. Following your guidelines, it took about 20 minutes to find/correct the problem. Problem solved, fast and easy *PLUS* now my girlfriend thinks I’m a handyman/electrical genius!!! Thanks so much for sharing your experience & knowledge in such a great way. -Tom, WA
Thanks for the advice. You were spot on about the loose neutral wire and allowed me to immediately fix a problem I had spent hours making myself crazy over. I just sent you a payment via PayPal. I really appreciate your service and thanks again. -Vince, CO
Greetings-I am a home improvement person that has always had a profound interest and recent passion for electrical work. I have spent some time perusing your website and have enjoyed it very much. Your explanations, illustrations and links are very well thought out and succinct. -Steve
Best $20 I ever spent. Thank you so much for the detailed, prompt responses and for the time spent building such an educational, informative website... With your help I learned a lot, can take pride in fixing something myself, and earned some major husband points in the process. If anybody reads this, I would recommend his site and his service without reservation. -Tony, AZ
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