I couple weeks ago, I had an electrician come in and remove two wires from two circuit breakers from the main panel. Those circuits power a sub panel across the basement. I found out that sub panel had a circuit breaker for the gas oven/stove and a circuit breaker for the dishwasher. I reconnected the wires to the two circuit breakers on the main panel.
The stove/oven works fine. The dishwasher doesn't turn on.
I bought a new dishwasher, because I thought there was a problem with the dishwasher, but the new dishwasher won't turn on either. I find it unlikely that the old dishwasher stops working at this time AND the new dishwasher doesn't power on, so I'm assuming it's a problem with the electricity.
I have a voltage tester, and it indicated that there was power going to the dishwasher. Would a dishwasher not turn on if there weren't enough amps? I plan on borrowing a multimeter from a friend today to check the amps going to the dishwasher. If there's not enough amps, would I have to run a new line to the dishwasher?
Thanks,
Jim
Edit:
I just tested the voltage and it came up with 8 – 11 volts. I checked the outlet next to me (on another circuit) to verify it was working correctly, and it showed 110.
Do I have to rewire?
Best Answer
I believe the electrician also disconnected another wire, from the neutral bus bar, in addition to the "two wires from two circuit breakers" you mentioned.
Follow the two you mentioned to where they exit the wall or the main panel and find a third there. That (white) one is probably not connected to anything, but should be connected to the neutral bus bar.
Here is my rational:
Stoves use two hots. Old stoves especially, only use two hots to operate.
Dishwashers need a hot and a neutral.
If the electrician disconnected a sub-panel, he probably did it all the way, not just the hots. You should check for and reconnect an uninsulated ground conductor as well if its loose in the main panel.
If the neutral was not connected, the stove would work, and the dishwasher not.