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Two of three bedrooms on same circuit breaker have no power

Two of three bedrooms on same circuit breaker have no power


  #1  
Old 10-18-20, 01:34 PM
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Two of three bedrooms on same circuit breaker have no power

Lost power in two bedrooms (light and outlets) plus an outlet in the hall and one in another bedroom, but not our hall ceiling lights that are all on the same circuit. Checked the breaker (flipped on and off) and nothing, no power back on. Checked all four GFCIs in nothing tripped but did reset. A GCFI tester showed hot/grnd reversed. Two light switches were floppy so I replaced them. Checked and replaced all but three outlets (ran out of new outlets) still no power. Only change in our household wiring recently was a replaced outdoor light which is functioning properly and on a completely different circuit.

Really stumped.
 
  #2  
Old 10-18-20, 03:56 PM
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You need to use a voltmeter or test light and start at the source and find where the power ends.
 
  #3  
Old 10-18-20, 04:44 PM
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Welcome to the forums.

A GCFI tester showed hot/grnd reversed
Where..... plugged into a regular but dead receptacle ?
That would indicate an open neutral in the circuit.
 
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  #4  
Old 10-18-20, 05:36 PM
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Hot ground reverse is usually an indication of an open neutral.
Check for a loose connection. It could be in a working device. Back stab pushin connections are often the source of this type of problem. Move any back stab connections to the screw terminals.
 
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  #5  
Old 10-18-20, 08:10 PM
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Yes, it was plugged into an outlet with the circuit breaker on. The colors on the testers three lights were red, no light and amber.

I've replaced nearly all outlets on the circuit. I made a new cut for nearly all of the wires.

I'll continue to troubleshoot with the meter.
 
  #6  
Old 10-18-20, 08:12 PM
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Do not overlook switches and light fixtures as the possible source of the problem.
 
  #7  
Old 10-23-20, 11:21 AM
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Yes, it was plugged into an outlet with the circuit breaker on. The colors on the testers three lights were red, no light and amber.
Think about this just a few minutes. If there were no power at the outlet the lights on the tester wouldn't work. That leaves only the logical conclusion that you don't have a neutral.
 
  #8  
Old 10-30-20, 03:12 PM
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Thanks everyone for the guidance. I was able to resolve the issue. I found an outlet with one of the white wires not plugged in. The outlet was behind a bookcase. We've not used that particular outlet in maybe 10 years.
 
  #9  
Old 10-31-20, 03:59 AM
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DMK1971: "Back Stabbing" - this is why we strongly discourage the use of back stabbing wires into devices. Over time the mechanism wears and does not hold the wire as firmly as it should for a good solid connection. If you find any more receptacles like that move the wires to the screws.
 
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