Powerline - Outlet stopped working

[colinwhipple]

I have been using Actiontec PWR500 adapters in my home for over a year; I think close to two years. One of the outlets I have been using stopped working for Powerline a couple of weeks ago. The LK light does not come on and I get no ethernet connection. I have tried the same adapter in another electrical outlet, and it works there and I have tried a different adapter in the first outlet, and it doesn't work, so I am pretty sure the problem has to do with the electrical outlet, not the adapters. The outlet does supply electricity when I plug in a lamp.

What could cause an outlet which had been working fine with a Powerline adapter to suddenly stop working, but still supply electricity to a lamp?

Would newer adapters using newer technology be likely to work?

 

[JackMDS]

Many time that occurs when a very "Spiky" appliance is connected to the same Line/branch, or a problematic outlet.

Try to unplug every thing that is on this line (i.e., connect to the same Fuse/Breaker), and see if it works.

Also try another outlet that is on the same branch.

If everything works around and it is only the specific outlet. Try to replace the outlet.

 

[colinwhipple]

It looks to me like the first step in replacing the outlet is getting a receptacle tester to find problems with the outlet.

 

[colinwhipple]

I bought a receptacle tester. According to it, the outlet is fine.

I have tried unplugging various items which are close to the problem outlet, including the UPS my computer is connected to, my laser printer and our inkjet printer, and our shredder. None of that made any difference.

Our refrigerator is located one floor below, and the washer and dryer are located down in the garage. The TV and related items are also one floor below. I have not done anything with them.

I am stumped about the cause of the problem.

 

[JackMDS]

When Powerline announced 20 years ago many thought that will take the "world".

Well, it did not.

Whatever you experience is one of the reasons. There is some disturbance, but further work beyond what you already did would be an expensive process involving oscilloscopes and wave analyzers.

 

[oamgl]

maybe the connection problem

 

[colinwhipple]

I bought some new powerline adapters, Zyxel 600s, and now it is working again.