Eletrical problem- looking for help

[Yuan]

One of the bedroom on second floor of my townhouse, one of the receptacle and lights switches are not working. First thing i checked was the circuit breaker box, and make sure the breaker did not "jump". I tried switched off and on again. Still the room has no sign of eletricity.

Any eletrician or expert has any tips? thanks

[CheapScotsman]

Are you saying that the receptacle / light switches were working then stopped working and now, despite resetting the breaker, still do not work (or is this a new townhouse to you and they have never worked?)

Describe what happened when the lights / receptacles stopped working (did you plug something in or ???)

Here are some suggestions:


Are there any other breakers in the electrical box that are tripped? Maybe that is the one that controls the room

It is possible that that the receptacle(s) is controlled by the light switch ... which you are leaving off when testing ... and that the light isn't working cause the bulb is burnt out.

Test the receptacle with the light switch turned on with an appliance you knows is working

Change the light bulb with one that you know works

It is possible that you have a defective circuit breaker. Switch for another of the same rating in the main electrical box (turn the main power off first) ... or if you are not sure what you are doing then get an electrician

[Dustbunny]

I had a similar issue once when one hall light and one bedroom just went dead (lights and receptacles). I knew the circuit also ran my fridge and another hall light and they still worked so it was a bit of a mystery. The breaker never did flip.

Electrician came and found the circuit had burnt out where the dead hall light was so in essence whatever was before that still worked, anything after was dead. Apparently the problem came when the temperature outside changed (fall to winter) and the connections to that hall light were not quite tight. That wiring ran in the attic and was subject to the changes in outside temp. When the temp changed it would expand and contract those connections and they finally shorted out causing an arc/burn.

It did take the electrician having his tool he has that follows current to find the break and apparently it was one of those things that could have caused a fire had it not been just the way it happened to be. I saw the arc scorch mark when he removed the light so I gained some new respect for doing wiring.

If you are handy and tried all the other things suggested, you can take a look at all your connections to see if they are tight and if there is any evidence of an arc/burn. As long as the wiring is still okay, they just need to be tightened again but if you aren't sure of yourself, call an expert as fire isn't something you want to risk.

[Mr Nobody]

Could be a failed back-stab. The quick connector for wiring on the back of switches and outlets. Moving the wire onto the screw connector will resolve it. Since electrical is chained in series, this is why other outlets/switches beyond the failed one are also not working.

Only attempt if you're comfortable with working with electrical.