Lights not on breaker panel?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 2
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Lights not on breaker panel?
We have had a recent upgrade to add outlets for a walk-in tub with heat and massage jets. The "electrician" wired the box to the breaker with our a/c compressor and when remodeling the bathroom cut a hot wire which blew out half the house.
We have been recovering since then. The remaining issues are that no breaker will turn off the lights on several rooms in the house. Even the main breaker in our FPE box does not shut them off. We have a main handle cut off the shuts all power and does cut everything as far as we can tell without proper meters.
Investigation into the breaker box uncovered two Black hots in one breaker. Could this issue throw electricity somehow preventing the breaker from shutting down the power effectively?
Any thoughts on how to trouble shoot would be greatly appreciated. I am currently mapping the power in the house which is from the 70s using a circuit detective and following cables.
thank you!
We have been recovering since then. The remaining issues are that no breaker will turn off the lights on several rooms in the house. Even the main breaker in our FPE box does not shut them off. We have a main handle cut off the shuts all power and does cut everything as far as we can tell without proper meters.
Investigation into the breaker box uncovered two Black hots in one breaker. Could this issue throw electricity somehow preventing the breaker from shutting down the power effectively?
Any thoughts on how to trouble shoot would be greatly appreciated. I am currently mapping the power in the house which is from the 70s using a circuit detective and following cables.
thank you!
#2
Welcome to the forums.
It sounds like you have multiple circuit breakers feeding the same circuit(s).
Is your "electrician" working with you on this one ?
This may not be an easy problem to locate.
It sounds like you have multiple circuit breakers feeding the same circuit(s).
Is your "electrician" working with you on this one ?
This may not be an easy problem to locate.
#3
Have your turned off all breakers and then turned on one at a time and mapped the live lights and receptacles, etc?
As opposed to turn off breakers one at a time and mapped the dead receptacles, etc.
As opposed to turn off breakers one at a time and mapped the dead receptacles, etc.
#5
Sorry to say but that is not an electrician. The A/C needs to be a dedicated circuit . The walk in tub most likely needs one also.
#6
Aw yes, good old FPE.
You need to use a meter to see if the main breaker is even shutting power off. After all it is a FPE.
Meter wise an $8-$15 analog (not digital) multimeter is all you need.
Even the main breaker in our FPE box does not shut them off
as far as we can tell without proper meters.
#7
Two black wires under one breaker terminal screw will not necessarily cause this problem but incorrectly connected wires can.
Two wires may not be held by one screw unless metal parts hold the wires not touching each other and where the wires cannot slip sideways out from under the screw just before tightening.
Mapping out breakers and receptacles can be done with an ordinary table lamp fixture. I suggest having an incandescent bulb, which will more readily reveal some other problems by glowing unusualy dim or bright.
Two wires may not be held by one screw unless metal parts hold the wires not touching each other and where the wires cannot slip sideways out from under the screw just before tightening.
Mapping out breakers and receptacles can be done with an ordinary table lamp fixture. I suggest having an incandescent bulb, which will more readily reveal some other problems by glowing unusualy dim or bright.
#9
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 2
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Thanks to everyone offering suggestions. I am currently mapping the house and appreciate the suggestion to turn all breakers off then bring them on. I was moving from one switch, light or outlet and finding the breaker which resulted in the circuit detective finding two outlets at times and in one case it was neither and the breaker was not found. We have a outlet tester and a night light that we are using. The new outlet in the Bathroom shows No Ground status on from the outlet tester.
My intention today is to remove one of the two wires to trace the other and then switch to identify how much is drawing on the two. I will also get the analog tester as you suggested and go from there.
I'll keep the thread updated as we go and thanks again!
My intention today is to remove one of the two wires to trace the other and then switch to identify how much is drawing on the two. I will also get the analog tester as you suggested and go from there.
I'll keep the thread updated as we go and thanks again!