Power tool connected to a socket doesn't activate when power switch depressed

[Diyer008]

Power saw connected to a socket doesn't activate when power switch depressed, but it turns on the light fixture in ceiling nearby while power button is depressed. Can someone point me in the right direction on how to correct this problem. Please let me know if you need any additional details as I'm pretty new to this. Thank you ahead for any help or tips.

 

[Pete999]

power tool
busted?

 

[littlespark]

I believe OP is in America where power and lights may share the same circuit.
@Megawatt would be best to advise, but I’ve not seen him here for a while??

 

[DPG]

Sounds like the wiring at the outlet is incorrect. Has it ever worked correctly?

 

[westward10]

Is it a switch/receptacle combo.

 

[DPG]

Is it a switch/receptacle combo.

I bet it is. You thinking the outlet and light have ended up in series?

 

[westward10]

If it is a replacement the combo can act in a couple of ways. The switch controls the receptacle and no light or the switch controls a light and the receptacle generally remains permanently on so it is possible the switch is operating correctly and the hot link to the receptacle has been removed. Would need to know the type of outlet and whether it is existing or a replacement.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Two possibilities:

The receptacle is incorrectly connected in series with the light (and if the light works from the switch, the receptacle is in parallel with that) instead of being connected directly to the power feed. This has probably never worked correctly since installation.

Or, much less likely, it's a multi-wire branch circuit (light on one hot leg, receptacle on the other) with a broken neutral, which puts the light and appliance in series across 240 volts. The fact the bulb didn't go pop suggests this is not the problem (tungsten would have blown immediately but LED might survive briefly). This could have worked correctly in the past until the neutral became disconnected.

We would need to see the wiring at the receptacle to make any progress. If it is incorrect, it suggests that whoever installed it didn't know what they were doing, therefore there might be other problems.

 

[Diyer008]

Is it a switch/receptacle combo.

No just a receptacle

 

[Diyer008]

Sounds like the wiring at the outlet is incorrect. Has it ever worked correctly?

it did work correctly initially. We disconnected a couple outlet and switch to break down wall. After we rewired the outlet gave problem. We have yet to reconnect switch. Will try that and report back to see what effect it has.

 

[Diyer008]

power tool
busted?

Tool works in different outlet

 

[DPG]

it did work correctly initially. We disconnected a couple outlet and switch to break down wall. After we rewired the outlet gave problem. We have yet to reconnect switch. Will try that and report back to see what effect it has.

I strongly suspect you have made a mistake when you did the wiring mods.