Electricity

[fossiljoseph]

I need help. My bathroom lights and outlets in the next bedroom are out. They are not connected to a GFI. The circuit breakers all read 120. Can’t figure this out.

 

[Dannyo]

I would reset all the breakers anyway

 

[TPC]

I need help. My bathroom lights and outlets in the next bedroom are out. They are not connected to a GFI. The circuit breakers all read 120. Can’t figure this out.

I had the same. Loose wires at the switch, earthquake shook them loose disconnected it. Probably not tightened properly during construction.

 

[outboard_256]

If you have a GFI on the same circuit then check those too. It could be in another room and still affect stuff down the line. If that isn't the problem then take a volt meter and start checking everything to see where it drops out. Could be a bad switch/socket.

 

[YeahYeah01]

Not a lot to go on lol. But definitely make sure there is not a rouge GFI somewhere. Sometime they are strange and garage outlet may control your bedroom.

Past that isolate what's on the breaker by process of elimination then start pulling outlets and making sure nothing is loose, make site power is off.

Also there are legit sparkys here that will blow my advice out the water so probably wait for them lol.

 

[TrollerDave]

If you have a GFI on the same circuit then check those too. It could be in another room and still affect stuff down the line. If that isn't the problem then take a volt meter and start checking everything to see where it drops out. Could be a bad switch/socket.

Not a lot to go on lol. But definitely make sure there is more a rouge GFI. Sometime they are strange and garage outlet may control your bedroom.

Past that isolate what's on the breaker by process of elimination then start pulling outlets and making sure nothing is loose, make site power is off.

Also there are legit sparkys here that will blow my advice out the water so probably wait for them lol.

Like these guys said, it’s possible GFI is somewhere else. In my condo, GFI was in the garage and it killed the power in only one bathroom upstairs.
And like TPC said, possible loose wire. Some switches and outlets have the option for the wire to be pushed into the back of it. Sometimes, the wire doesn’t catch completely or the spring is loose and you get a bad connection.


Do you have a multimeter or voltage pen?

I need help. My bathroom lights and outlets in the next bedroom are out. They are not connected to a GFI. The circuit breakers all read 120. Can’t figure this out.

 

[brianwhiteboy]

Probably a loose neutral somewhere in the circuit. Start popping plates and checking the wires at each switch and receptacle.

 

[SoCalDave]

I need help. My bathroom lights and outlets in the next bedroom are out. They are not connected to a GFI. The circuit breakers all read 120. Can’t figure this out.

Fuk, you guys are slipen...
We need to see your boat and your better half before we can diagnose the issue accordingly.

 

[fossiljoseph]

Thank you everyone. I took all the outlets and lights apart. The last outlet had an Amazon special surge protector plugged in and had shorted out the outlet.

 

[wzuber]

If the original wire circuits have been altered, extended, split etc. It could be somebody altered a circuit and did not twist the wires together and just screwed on the wire nuts. Over time they vibrate loose and the wires disconnect breaking continuity and then the circuit down stream fails to get power. Plug a radio into a receptacle so as you check your wall boxes and all connections when you wiggle it and it reconnects you'll know readily. Remember, you have to have a good complete ground circuit for electricity to work. Have you tried the grounding sheets? Haha

 

[wzuber]

Thank you everyone. I took all the outlets and lights apart. The last outlet had an Amazon special surge protector plugged in and had shorted out the outlet.

Fuggin amazon crap. Cool you fingered it out.

 

[SoCalDave]

Maybe try some of those grounding sheets...

 

[Kachina26]

No help here, but this seemed like the right place to put it.

 

[NicPaus]

We got more sparkys on here than boat owners. Taboma wrote the handbook.

 

[stokerwhore]

try a labbed 30"p RH

 

[Justfishing]

I need help. My bathroom lights and outlets in the next bedroom are out. They are not connected to a GFI. The circuit breakers all read 120. Can’t figure this out.

The gfci doesnt have to be in the bathroom . Go find every gfci in the house and reset it. Look for gfci outside, garage and basement.

General information on a gfci. The gfci protects every outlet in the circuit after the gfci outlet. The outlets can be on different floors, rooms, outside, inside etc. its possible the gfci is outside or in the garage and protecting areas in the house. Gfcis are required in wet locations. Kitchens, bathrooms, basements, garages and outside.

 

[Taboma]

We got more sparkys on here than boat owners. Taboma wrote the handbook.

We got more sparkys on here than boat owners. Taboma wrote the handbook.

That's very nice of you to say. I'm humbled by the the amazing talent and knowledge displayed and shared in the content I read daily on RDP.

In this case of "Sherlock Sparky Mystery Thread", I'm just glad the OP somehow got it sorted out and apparently repaired.

I will offer two tips based on the various responses I read.

1. There's a logic to electrical circuiting and troubleshooting, as in, where it's likely to have begun and where it probably ends. Try to mentally or even on a napkin, map that out and follow that as you proceed with your troubleshooting and process of elimination, or get lucky --- that works to obviously.

2. Non-Contact testers are good for some things, but remember, they only tell half of the story, the neutral, aka return leg, is equally important and often overlooked.
Also please beware, that the white neutral so many mistake as being harmless or benign, under certain circumstances is every bit as dangerous as the "Hot" and in some circuits can continue to be, despite the circuit breaker being de-energized (Off). As an apprentice I learned that the hard way quite by accident, but it was a valuable learning lesson.

3. Please spend a few bucks and buy some proper testers.
Own and know how to use a multi-meter (With sufficiently long test probe tips (Many don't reach deep enough) ), then buy and learn how to use one of these types of receptacle testers.

 

[DRYHEAT]

My biggest concern is that the original poster said his bathroom lights and receptacles were not hooked to a GFI circuit. I certainly hope that isn’t the case and he is mistaken. Maybe a GFI breaker?
FIIK I ain’t no Sparky.

 

[Taboma]

The gfci doesnt have to be in the bathroom . Go find every gfci in the house and reset it. Look for gfci outside, garage and basement.

General information on a gfci. The gfci protects every outlet in the circuit after the gfci outlet. The outlets can be on different floors, rooms, outside, inside etc. its possible the gfci is outside or in the garage and protecting areas in the house. Gfcis are required in wet locations. Kitchens, bathrooms, basements, garages and outside.

I'm not sure I'd offer the assumption that all other outlets on a particular circuit downstream of a GFCI are also protected. That only applies if the GFCI has been wired in a "Feed Through" configuration and not intentionally "By-passed". I will agree it's relatively normal for GFCI required receptacles to be wired in this manner, but not otherwise required and there can be valid exceptions.

 

[Taboma]

My biggest concern is that the original poster said his bathroom lights and receptacles were not hooked to a GFI circuit. I certainly hope that isn’t the case and he is mistaken. Maybe a GFI breaker?
FIIK I ain’t no Sparky.

This is what the OP stated " My bathroom lights and outlets in the next bedroom are out " --- didn't mention bathroom receptacles being out.

Grouping bathroom lights that aren't required to be protected and adjacent bedroom is pretty normal, since many bedrooms with switched outlets are commonly shared with lighting circuits.