I'm having a bizarre electrical issue in my 20-year-old house in the USA. Suddenly, the ceiling light and two wall outlets have stopped working completely, showing no voltage at all when I test them with a multimeter. Moreover, a ceiling light in the adjacent room is also out. I can't seem to pinpoint a specific circuit for these fixtures and outlets. Is it possible for a part of a circuit to fail? I'm considering getting a wiring continuity tester, but I'd prefer to avoid ripping out walls or climbing into the attic if possible. This whole situation is really strange to me.
3 Answers
It’s likely they’re on the same circuit, which might've just blown. Keep in mind, circuits aren’t always divided by room, so they could be interconnected for convenience. Just a thought, but have you checked for any signs of water damage or if any animals might have caused chaos in the wires? You can get a pen-style voltage tester for under 10 bucks, but they’re not super reliable. A multimeter is really the way to go, just make sure you know what you’re doing—safety first!
You could consider using a non-contact voltage tester pen; they're pretty affordable—under 10 bucks! They’re a handy way to locate where the AC voltage ends in the circuit without needing to mess around too much. Just be careful, and if you're unsure, getting an electrician is always a smart move.
It sounds like a tripped GFCI outlet might be the culprit, especially if any of your outlets are in areas like a bathroom, kitchen, or garage. If that's not it and you’ve checked the breaker, there might be a loose connection or a bad splice somewhere. These issues can be a real hassle to uncover because you often have to open up every box to investigate. Electricians use tools that help speed up this process, but it still involves some tedious searching. Just a heads-up, backstab connections are notorious for causing problems like this!
You might be right! I found out my outlets were all backstabbed and it caused a mess. A failed outlet definitely can ruin part of a circuit. Just be careful when you’re identifying which circuit to test.
Totally agree! That’s why I avoid backstab connections like the plague; I only use screw terminals now.