[rob love]

That blue thingy might be a diode someone put in. It could be faulty. Testing it is easy enough...it is a one way valve for electricity. Disconnect the wire to the screw at the cutoff in order to isolate the diode. Put the leads of a multimeter set to ohms onto each end of the diode. You may or may not get continuity. Then switch the leads around. You may or may not get continuity. One way should give you continuity and the other will not. If you don't get continuity either way, then the diode is your problem. Don't be touching the bare ends of the leads when doing this test...you also have a certain measure of continuity.



You can also do this with a self powered testlight. The DC power should only go through one way.



If the diode is bad, you can toss it and run the wire straight across. I understand why someone put in the diode, although quite frankly, that is what the cutoff is for. Some of the replacement cutoffs are just that....a diode hidden under the cover. That blob on the diode may indicate it is bad, or it may just be bird poop or debris.


Edited to add: It may also be a capacitor, to replace the original filter unit. Either way, toss it and run the wire straight to ground. That blob on the side does not look kosher no matter which it is. You are out in the country....I doubt the lack of a filter will disturb anyones televisions or radios. You could run a short test lead with two alligator clips to see if that is your problem....just attach a lead to each side of the blue thing.


Edited one more time: Or is the blue thing just a blue butt connector? In that case it is likely just a red herring. It should have continuity through it. Pull on both wires going to it and make sure they are tight. If one comes out, you could replace it or you could use solder and heatshrink.