Zach Cross

An update for anyone interested: The culprit was a failed GFCI on the same circuit. I am a little surprised by this finding for a couple of reasons. 1. There was still ~120v to the receptacles on that circuit. I guess if the GFCI wasn't tripped, but the internal components went bad, that's plausible? 2. The failed GFCI was no where near the receptacle that apparently was yanked on. Is it possible that a short damaged the internal circuitry of the GFCI? Or maybe just coincidence that the GFCI failed at/around the same time? In any case, it is fixed and I trust that was the issue. I wasn't able to be at the house and pester the electrician with questions (unfortunately for me, great for them). So that's about as much as I know.

Thanks Jim, will do.

Thanks for the reply Bill. I forgot to mention that I did change out the receptacle with a brand new one, and no luck solving the problem. I was getting roughly 114 volts with a multimeter between the hot and neutral when the receptacle was pulled out, but left off there. Went on some wild goose chasing looking for maybe some screws or nails they might have added on the wall somewhere. I got laser focused on something getting jostled from the extension chord, maybe should have thought about resistance? They have an electrician to contact now, I was just hoping it was something easy.

Hi folks, I'm trying to trouble shoot an electrical issue at my in-law's 1947 home. Apparently, they were using an extension cord at a living room receptacle, and yanked on the cord abruptly and the receptacle stopped working. I used my electrical tester and the receptacle reads hot and ground reversed. I pulled the receptacle out, checked all the connections and everything is secure. Wires coming into the box are energized. It is only when the mounting screws on the receptacle are fully tightened does the receptacle read with hot and ground reversed. Otherwise, when the receptacle is pulled out from the metal box tester reads nothing, no power. It looks like some old armored BX cable running into a metal gang box. There are two other receptacles on the same circuit, on the same wall (exterior wall, inside receptacles) that also now display hot and ground reversed. I am wondering if there is a energized wire in contact with the armored cable somewhere in the circuit? Any insight would be much appreciated.

It looks a lot like a composite shake, with maybe some heat warping but hard to tell without being up close. Don't see much of that around here in the Pacific NW, so I may be wrong.

Very true. However, I do feel it is important to differentiate between something that was once considered acceptable and something that was done wrong. And in the process, communicate why the rules were changed.

I have a narrative I wrote a while back, where I mention that electrical panels have not been allowed in bathrooms since 1993. I don't remember where I got that date, but it lines up with what Bill said so I assume I found it somewhere reputable. I really should reference things in my narratives. Anyways, if the house was built prior to 1993 then I recommend having an electrician examine the panel every few years for signs of corrosion. If it looks like new work or the house was built after 1993 I recommend moving the panel. I did a condominium inspection last week, building built in 1986, and the electrical panel was installed in the bathroom. Appeared to be the same for all 140 units or so. Inspector in Oregon.