On Thu, Jul 24, 2014 at 8:10 AM, Tim . <tims_datsun_stuff@outlook.com> wrote:
> I re-read my OP. Let's see
> if I can be more clear on my description....
>
>
>
> (From what I remember when
> we did the roof above this porch) it is knob and
> tube to the fan--I didn't open
> up the fan to verify the connection but the
> only wires above the
> ceiling were knob and tube and the only electrical on the
> porch is this: I can
> see Romex from the fan to a junction box. From the
> junction box there
> is a (romex) split to the outside porch light and another
> romex
> split to the inside outlet. The inside outlet is the type where the
> wires screw
> into the side. From the inside outlet is a set of wires that are
> run to the
> outside weather proof outlet, again romex.
>
>
>
> Some have mentioned having
> a light plugged into the outlet while trying to
> test the circuit. Let me
> ask this: If I have the wall switch (the wall switch
> is inside the house)
> turned on and the ceiling fan running, then there (used
> to be) should
> be power running to the outside light so there should be a draw
> on
> the circuit while I am trying to determine voltage. Is this correct? I
> also
> had plugged in a small shop vac into the inside outlet and then tested the
> wires again and got what appeared to be a low voltage reading. Again, all this
> time the ceiling fan was running and its light worked as well.
>
>
If the fan works, you know the wire up to the fan is good. The fault
is somewhere downstream of it, including the connection at the fan's
box. Given the description before, the likely failure is between the
fan (again, including the connections at its box) and the junction
box. If you're lucky, it's loose at the fan, and replacing a wire nut
solves your problem, but it could well be a broken (or varmint
chewed...) wire in the wall. Taking the fan apart to get at its
wiring is clearly the next step. After that I'd start checking the
continuity of the wires. In the absence of sufficiently long test
leads, you can short the hot and neutral together at one point, and
then test that there's low resistance between them at other points.
If there's not, then you know what segment has the problem, and work
out what the best way to run new wire is. If there is, then you have
something stranger going on, but give the topography, I'm betting on
loose connection or broken wire.
Another thought: do you have an outlet tester? They're cheap, and
well worth the money, and might tell you something before you starting
taking things apart. (I'm talking about the ones you plug in with
three lights. depding on how the lights light up, it says "good", "bad
ground" "open neutral" etc. cost about five bucks.)
--
David Scheidt
dmscheidt@gmail.com
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