Hello all.
I went to trouble shoot a 3 way and 1 pole switch last week as per a phone call. The owner said they were jiggled and not working right
Turns out the lighting for those switches and six receptacles are out.
It one of those add a level (and more) capes. 2nd floor bed of 3 bed and bath.
Checked power from panel. Opened and checked boxes around the other rooms on second floor.
Boxes under rent the room on the first floor.
Maybe there's a buried box. Maybe a box buried by a high hat ? Screw in the wire?
The owner said the lights went out. Then once two years ago they just came on in the. Ignt when he was in bed. Then went out again. ( two years ago !!!! He didn't say anything like that over the phone)
As I was working on this he mentioned even calling several of my " competitors" in the past and no one would even come out.
I'm thinking about going back and trying again. Besides opening many boxes I also hooked up a radio to a dead receptacle and banged other receptacles with the back of my hand and areas of walls and ceilings ?
I'm thinking about hooking up a heater load to a dead receptacle neutral and turn it on and off to locate the neutral and circuit at the panel (amp probe)and confirm what else may be on that circuit and if workng may the problem is at that box ??
So if there are any trouble shooting suggestions that would be welcome
But the basic question is how do you charge for trouble shooting?
I've got three hours into it. Not sure how I can charge him for nothing even though it was a something. And don't want to look into it anymore for free.
If I can't locate the problem I'm thinking to back feed part of the circuit. But even that would in tale reopening these boxes to attempt locating which wire is which as to try not to back feed the existing bad splice or break.
Suggestions. Thank you
I went to trouble shoot a 3 way and 1 pole switch last week as per a phone call. The owner said they were jiggled and not working right
Turns out the lighting for those switches and six receptacles are out.
It one of those add a level (and more) capes. 2nd floor bed of 3 bed and bath.
Checked power from panel. Opened and checked boxes around the other rooms on second floor.
Boxes under rent the room on the first floor.
Maybe there's a buried box. Maybe a box buried by a high hat ? Screw in the wire?
The owner said the lights went out. Then once two years ago they just came on in the. Ignt when he was in bed. Then went out again. ( two years ago !!!! He didn't say anything like that over the phone)
As I was working on this he mentioned even calling several of my " competitors" in the past and no one would even come out.
I'm thinking about going back and trying again. Besides opening many boxes I also hooked up a radio to a dead receptacle and banged other receptacles with the back of my hand and areas of walls and ceilings ?
I'm thinking about hooking up a heater load to a dead receptacle neutral and turn it on and off to locate the neutral and circuit at the panel (amp probe)and confirm what else may be on that circuit and if workng may the problem is at that box ??
So if there are any trouble shooting suggestions that would be welcome
But the basic question is how do you charge for trouble shooting?
I've got three hours into it. Not sure how I can charge him for nothing even though it was a something. And don't want to look into it anymore for free.
If I can't locate the problem I'm thinking to back feed part of the circuit. But even that would in tale reopening these boxes to attempt locating which wire is which as to try not to back feed the existing bad splice or break.
Suggestions. Thank you