Look for a ground fault
- Disconnect the wires feeding the new receptacle, at both ends.
- Set your multimeter (you do have a multimeter, right?) to the lowest resistance setting, or the continuity setting if it has it.
- Touch one probe to the green/bare grounding conductor, and the other to each of the other wires in turn.
- repeat this process for every combination of wires (G-> B, G -> W, W -> B).
With the wiring disconnected, you should not get a reading on the multimeter. If you do, it means you have a short-circuit between that set of wires. Repeat this process on the new receptacle, touching one probe to the green ground terminal and the other to each the brass and silver terminals. Again, no combination should give a reading.
Your circuit is too long?
It may be possible that the circuit is just too long, and the resistance in the conductors themselves are causing the imbalance. Try connecting the new receptacle to the previous receptacle temporarily, using short pigtails (CAUTION: Working on energized circuits is dangerous.). Turn on the power, and try to set the GFCI. Make sure nobody is near the exposed receptacles, and don't touch, or get near them while the power is on.
If the GFCI holds, there is a fault in the wiring to the new receptacle or the circuit may simply be too long.
Warning: I haven't done any calculations, research, or testing on this theory, so it could be completely false. It's just a thought, but it's fairly easy for you to test.
According to the documentation for the Two-Pole QO®/QOB Circuit Breaker and Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
NOTE: To minimize nuisance tripping:...
- Do not connect circuit breaker to more than 250 ft. (76 m) of load conductor for the total one-way run
Is the power on?
GFCI receptacles can only be reset when the power is on. So if you're trying to reset it with the power off, you won't have any luck.
The GFCI device only protects part of the circuit, that's why there's a difference between the breaker tripping and the GFCI device tripping. When the GFCI is tripped, only the protected items lose power. When the breaker trips, the entire circuit; including the GFCI and protected devices, loses power.
It sounds like you may have a serious problem, that you might want to have a professional investigate.
Best Answer
If I read your original question correct you said that "the outlets are not getting any juice" but you confuse me with your later statement about the LOAD side still having the tape on, this would suggest that there is no connection to other receptacles on the load side. Can you clarify that please?
If I may suggest that you make sure your wires are stripped the proper length and fixed to the line side of the GFCI receptacle using the side screws and not the push-in holes, I have experienced poor results with the latter method making a good contact just plugging them in. also it is a good idea to make sure the breaker for the circuit is off when making the connections.
If the problem persists you may want to get an professional on the scene, at $25 a pop for the outlets you could save yourself a head ache and get it done in one go.