Intermittent power loss

[nizak]

Ive got a residence that has lost power on occasion in the last 2 months to receptacles in 2 bedrooms.

I've identified the circuit and the outlets that it feeds.

- Breaker does not trip.
- Some receptacles continue to work.
-I've traced the NM cable betweeen suspect boxes and can't find a break.
- I've remade all connections at the devices in question.

Before I went there the first time, it had gone out for a few days and then "came back on" by itself.

It then went out again awhile later.
I went and did the above mentioned work and could not get it to work.

I said I would come back the following morning and the owner called that evening saying it was working.

Two weeks later now and it's out again.
This all started a couple months back when the homeowner painted the walls in both rooms.
( I strongly suspect that's a coincidence)

Any thoughts?

 

[hillbilly1]

Most likely a bad stab in receptacle. The HO probably removed the covers to paint, disturbing the connections. Probably a hidden receptacle that you missed on remaking the connection. Any outdoor receptacles nearby? Garage on the same wall?

 

[nizak]

You called it!

Bad back stab connection behind a huge wall unit type book case that was not moved at painting.( It was now)

Owner never had that device out, I suspect poor install pushing in the wire 20 + years ago.

Coincidentally located directly above garage door opener.

Vibration????

 

[FionaZuppa]

You called it!

Bad back stab connection behind a huge wall unit type book case that was not moved at painting.( It was now)

Owner never had that device out, I suspect poor install pushing in the wire 20 + years ago.

Coincidentally located directly above garage door opener.

Vibration????

The bookcase is up against a wall, and, there's a garage door opener just above that bookcase ???

Vibration? nah, sounds like crappy retention spring metal in the made-in-china receptacle. If the recept is not needed, tie the wires and put a blank face on it............... "so it won't happen again"

 

[hbiss]

The bookcase is up against a wall, and, there's a garage door opener just above that bookcase ???

Ahh, no. Bookcase is in the room directly over the garage the way I read it. I wouldn't remove the receptacle and blank it up, likely it's one of the required ones. Behind a huge book case? Isn't that were you are supposed to put AFCI and GFCI feed through receptacles?

-Hal

 

[Hv&Lv]

Ahh, no. Bookcase is in the room directly over the garage the way I read it. I wouldn't remove the receptacle and blank it up, likely it's one of the required ones. Behind a huge book case? Isn't that were you are supposed to put AFCI and GFCI feed through receptacles?

-Hal

Maybe now. Probably not required when it was installed.

 

[Electricmo]

I’m assuming the wires are now moved to screws. Stabbing has never been a good practice in my book.

 

[nizak]

Yes.