I am an electrical retard

[davesnothere]

And I'm hoping one of you guys may be able to help me. Came home from work today, and there's no power in the master bedroom, bathroom, and half the living room, which all share a breaker. So I checked the breaker, and the others while I was it, and they are ok.

That's the extent of what I know to do, and I don't feel compelled to start any type of uneducated experimentation.

Can anybody tell me what you might go about doing next? I called the landlord, who said call joeblow handyman, who's voicemail tells me he is out of town until Tuesday. If there's something simple I could do myself, id rather not wait that long.

Thanks guys.

 

[purplezr2]

Turn the break off, and switch it back on and see what happens. Main breaker is not tripped is it?

 

[davesnothere]

I've flipped the breaker more times than I can count, and get nothing. Everything else in the house is working, so I'm assuming its a problem with just the one circuit.

 

[mrb]

my guess is a failed backstabbed receptacle. Get a non contact voltage detector. Turn the breaker off and note all receptacles that dont have power. Turn breaker on and see if any of those now have power. Mark the one(s) that now work, turn breaker back off, pull out each of these receptacles and look at the back for melting or burning.

 

[rburke65]

Possibly a loose connection in an outlet. Go around to each outlet and hit the wall and this possibly will cause the connection to "make" momentarily and the lights, etc may flicker and come back on. That outlet is the one to take apart and to check out. No promises. Depends how it was wired. Good luck.

 

[ghnl]

Any GFI outlets in the circuits? Even if not 'tripped' they can fail and will take out anything wired downstream.

 

[davesnothere]

my guess is a failed backstabbed receptacle. Get a non contact voltage detector. Turn the breaker off and note all receptacles that dont have power. Turn breaker on and see if any of those now have power. Mark the one(s) that now work, turn breaker back off, pull out each of these receptacles and look at the back for melting or burning.

I think I have a voltage detector around here somewhere. Do you just put one probe into one hole, and the other in the one next to it?

 

[davesnothere]

Any GFI outlets in the circuits? Even if not 'tripped' they can fail and will take out anything wired downstream.

I'm assuming those are the ones with the lights built into them?

 

[Gooch]

It honestly sounds like it's time for you to call a professional.

 

[davesnothere]

It honestly sounds like it's time for you to call a professional.

Dude, I was the first to label myself an electrical retard.
I also stated that the landlords professional, whom I did call, is out of town until Tuesday.

 

[Teken]

I would follow mrb suggestion. Its safe, practical, and it will at least rule out something you can do while you wait for the landlord to get the jack of all trades, master of none on site.

Teken . . .

 

[davesnothere]

Thanks guys.
Found a GFCI tripped in the bathroom.
I didn't even realize there was one in there, as I'm not allowed into that bathroom.
That's the girls bathroom.

 

[Speedy Petey]

Dude, I was the first to label myself an electrical retard.
I also stated that the landlords professional, whom I did call, is out of town until Tuesday.

And I'm sure he is the only "professional" in town, right?
Your LL sounds like a real winner.

Glad you got it worked out.

 

[FluxCore]

Yup, glad you found it....but hang on, it's time to investigate why the GFI tripped.

Your little girls might be using something electricly unsafe, or did something unsafe...Perhaps the GFI saved them but the hazard remains.

Best case is maybe their little fingers accidently punched the test button...either way, investigate.

On a side note; That sounds like quite a load fed off a single GFI outlet

 

[Mr_fixit]

Great news , you're no longer an electrical retard. Electrically challanged, but not a retard.!

 

[davesnothere]

Yup, glad you found it....but hang on, it's time to investigate why the GFI tripped.

Your little girls might be using something electricly unsafe, or did something unsafe...Perhaps the GFI saved them but the hazard remains.

Best case is maybe their little fingers accidently punched the test button...either way, investigate.

On a side note; That sounds like quite a load fed off a single GFI outlet

I don't think it was the little girls, its more likely it was the big girl (read: my wife), and all her hair tools. At least she looks good. And now I know where to look first if it happens again.

 

[NWphotog]

I think I have a voltage detector around here somewhere. Do you just put one probe into one hole, and the other in the one next to it?

If you mean voltmeter NO! You want to use a non-contact voltage detector. It has just one probe and all you have to do is get it close. Should be about $15 at a big box store.

 

[FluxCore]

I don't think it was the little girls, its more likely it was the big girl (read: my wife), and all her hair tools. At least she looks good. And now I know where to look first if it happens again.

My last wife had quite a collection of tools...One was 30 amp 220V-it had an impact feature and was variable speed...it was also carbide tipped...she chipped her teeth with it....After I got the electric and dental bill, I swapped it for a 13HP gas powered unit and made her use it outside....Yup, I did

She never tripped a breaker or GFI, but she certainly dimmed the lights with it.

 

[gayler]

My last wife had quite a collection of tools...One was 30 amp 220V-it had an impact feature and was variable speed...it was also carbide tipped...she chipped her teeth with it....After I got the electric and dental bill, I swapped it for a 13HP gas powered unit and made her use it outside....Yup, I did

She never tripped a breaker or GFI, but she certainly dimmed the lights with it.

What the heck kind of tool are we talking about?

 

[FluxCore]

What the heck kind of tool are we talking about?

heck, I'm not sure what you'd call it....She bought it off the internet....It kinda looked like a small jack hammer...had two handles, and on the left handle was a squeeze paddle that controlled depth, the right handle paddle controlled speed....if you then twisted the right handle with the paddle squeezed you could control rotational speed...it took quite a bit of determination and dexterity to work it properly...I knew I had it right when her eyes rolled back in her head.

I remember she pitched a hissy fit when I used it to vibrate the concrete for my shop footings.

 

[Falcon67]

I don't think it was the little girls, its more likely it was the big girl (read: my wife), and all her hair tools. At least she looks good. And now I know where to look first if it happens again.

The big girls can certainly pull a lot of amps.

 

[wb2vsj]

heck, I'm not sure what you'd call it....She bought it off the internet....It kinda looked like a small jack hammer...had two handles, and on the left handle was a squeeze paddle that controlled depth, the right handle paddle controlled speed....if you then twisted the right handle with the paddle squeezed you could control rotational speed...it took quite a bit of determination and dexterity to work it properly...I knew I had it right when her eyes rolled back in her head.

I remember she pitched a hissy fit when I used it to vibrate the concrete for my shop footings.

Oh, Man - I've got tears rolling down my face!

 

[coolreed]

Most likely you have a GFI tripped. The GFI may or may not be where you think it is.

I had the same thing happen years ago and could not find the GFI. After considerable frustration (and I am a EE). I found the GFI in my bedroom hinden behind my High Boy chest of drawers.

Good Luck.

 

[rburke65]

Coolreed should read the posts first comment!

 

[FluxCore]

Most likely you have a GFI tripped. The GFI may or may not be where you think it is.

I had the same thing happen years ago and could not find the GFI. After considerable frustration (and I am a EE). I found the GFI in my bedroom hinden behind my High Boy chest of drawers.

Good Luck.

I LOVE GFCI breakers.....25 bucks each....and Gawd do the EVER work with never a false trip....so far

 

[TheChanMan]

heck, I'm not sure what you'd call it....She bought it off the internet....It kinda looked like a small jack hammer...had two handles, and on the left handle was a squeeze paddle that controlled depth, the right handle paddle controlled speed....if you then twisted the right handle with the paddle squeezed you could control rotational speed...it took quite a bit of determination and dexterity to work it properly...I knew I had it right when her eyes rolled back in her head.

I remember she pitched a hissy fit when I used it to vibrate the concrete for my shop footings.

absolutely priceless. nice lead-up. i pissed myself after this one came full circle

 

[TheChanMan]

that was so funny!!!!!!!!!!! I can't stand it. marvelous humourism!