I have a GFCI outlet that tripped. No matter how many times I push the rreset button, I can't get the little orange light to go off, so the circuit is dead. Unfortunately, this is the circuit that my garage door opener is on.

My dad will come change it out, but he can't do it until next weekend. Any suggestions on what I can try (other than pushing the reset button over and over) to try and get it working?

Check all outlets especially outside ones. Sometimes the gaskets fail and rain or sprinkler water will trip them or if the cover does not seal on brick or siding properly. You can run an extension cord to get the garage opener functioning short term. Just make sure it is sized properly for the amp draw of the opener.

Yeah, I was thinking my next option is to get an extension cord. I can only find three outlets on this circuit...the GFCI, the outlet on my front porch, and the outlet the garage door opener is plugged into. The outlet on the front porch is very well covered. I have a very deep covered walkway to my front door. I've checked the outlet on the front porch and it is completely dry, plus it's covered by a big plastic box.

[This message has been edited by TXTransplant (edited 7/17/2014 7:23p).]

Have you checked your bathroom outlets and the garage for another outlet on the circuit?

I had a circuit that had 2 GFCI plugs on it and had issues until I swapped one out.

The one other outlet in the garage that I can see is the outlet that the sprinkler system is plugged in to. It still works, so it's not on this circuit. There is also an outlet in the entryway in a wall that is shared with the garage. It works, too. If there are any other outlets in the garage, they are behind the boxes of books and other crap that line the perimeter of the garage. The outlets in the laundry room are also working. I'm kind of at a loss regarding where else to look. The master bath is on it's own GFCI and the secondary bathroom is kind of far from the garage (I'm assuming all if the outlets on this circuit would be in relatively close proximity?).

Is one of the outlets on this circuit one you use quite often ? Do any feel loose ? Sometimes a loose connection will cause a gfci to start tripping and not reset.

Is anything else plugged into these outlets beside the door opener ?

Have you tried unplugging the opener and then trying to reset it ?

Nothing is plugged into the outlet on the porch. The GFCI outlet had a glade plug in and my son's walkie talkies plugged into it, but I removed those when I first tried to reset the GFCI. I'm going to unplug the opener and try to reset before I make the trip to Lowes to get an extension cord. I haven't done that yet because 1) I have to drag out the big ladder and 2) for whatever reason the garage door motor is a real PITA to plug back in. I don't know if the outlet misaligned or what, but I had a heck of a time plugging it back in when I dealt with this once before (This GFCI has tripped 3 or 4 times in the past few months. The first time it happened, I thought the garage door opener was broken).

Edit: no luck resetting the GFCI with the opener unplugged. Headed to Lowes for an extension cord.


[This message has been edited by TXTransplant (edited 7/17/2014 8:36p).]

You might check behind your ac condenser. There may be a plug there that would likely be on same circuit

In the attic?

Edit: didn't see anything up there, but it's dark and it's hard to see behind the A/C.

[This message has been edited by TXTransplant (edited 7/17/2014 8:44p).]

Stop gap measure in place - garage door opener is plugged into a working outlet via a 15 amp contractor grade extension cord.

Have you verified that the breaker for that circuit isn't tripped!

Proximity for all the outlets can be hit or miss. I've got outlts in a gatage closet, 2 outdoor and both bathrooms on the same circuit.

[This message has been edited by 87ie (edited 7/17/2014 11:03p).]

Oh, yeah. Checked the breaker first thing when I couldn't reset the GFCI after 3 or 4 times pushing the button.

GFCI should be an easy switch out.

Get new one from big box store.

Take pictures of old one as you remove it.

Install new one.

Shouldn't require more than a couple screwdrivers and some electrical tape.

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In the attic?

Edit: didn't see anything up there, but it's dark and it's hard to see behind the A/C.

No I was talking about your outside unit. Most newer homes have an outlet there for service tech to use

[This message has been edited by TXTransplant (edited 7/17/2014 8:44p).]

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Hmmm...never noticed if there is one or not. I will have to look when I get home. I would expect it to have the same kind of box/cover on it as the one on the porch, though, and it is well protected.

Was finally able to reset the GFCI today. I'm guessing that circuit has all of the outdoor outlets on it. There is one on a covered side porch that is pretty close to the A/C unit.

I'm leaving my extension cord set up in place until my dad can come take a look.