Line fault at the outlet -- do I need an electrician?


Yesterday, I got a Panamax, Max 1500 surge protector and line conditioner. (I got a very good deal on it, and am just trying it out.)

I plugged it into an outlet I've been using for a while and one of the red lights on the front lit up saying "line fault." (I'm not sure how this is different from a "ground fault." Maybe it's the same.) The Panamax does not do this with other outlets in the room. They seem ok.

So, I know this means that the outlet is improperly wired. My question is, might this be a simple thing to check and/or fix? Any suggestions most appreciated. It's the only outlet I can use to have my audio set up where I usually have it. Now is not an optimal time to call an electrician. If this is a big problem, I'll try out my gear somewhere else in the room, but if I can fix this without too much expertise, that would be ideal.
hilde45

Showing 3 responses by falconquest

I would follow Jim's advice but you may want to start at the beginning and pull the cover off the panel box and JUST LOOK to see that the wiring on the circuit breaker matches all others. DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING IN THE PANEL BOX! If possible you can always turn off the main power breaker coming into the panel to do this. Sometimes homeowners add a circuit (I added a dedicated 20 amp circuit to mine) and they may have wired it wrong. I highly doubt that's the case but it is possible. By the way, if you kill the main breaker, be sure to have a flashlight in your hand.
" So, our house is a mixture of old/DIY and new (renovation); the problem is with the old part of the house."


Hmm, that’s telling eh miller?
I have certainly enjoyed this thread as well. There has been a lot of good information suggested and this really points out the problems that can arise when this old house meets do-it-youselfer. I don't mind do-it-youselfer's as long as they get the doing part right. This also demonstrates the effectiveness of the Panamax unit and the importance of a dedicated circuit.