Any electricians on the board here? Need help!

[moparguy01]

In my basement the other day I lost power to outlets that have worked for a 2 yearsor more. The entire circuit went dead. However no breakers were tripped. So I picked up a outlet tester and checked and I'm getting no lights on the tester at all. I checked the tester on other outlets and it's all good. Any ideas where to check from this point? We have had lots of bad storms lately and lightning may have been involved as I know it struck a neighbors house 3 down. Is it possible I had a breaker go bad?

[randr]

Look for one outlet with gfci. Might be tripped causing rest to have no power.

[moparguy01]

Good thought but no gfci outlets on this circuit unfortunately

[randr]

Hmm... I would reset the breaker anyways tripped or not. If still dead, bad breaker or wire loose/broke

[tsmithae]

I personally have had a breaker fry on me.  Tell tale sign for me with a constant humming/buzzing coming from that circuit breaker.  If you have a multimeter, meter the output of the individual breaker by connecting the neg lead to your grounding bar and the pos to on of the screws on the breaker.  If nothing there, try a new breaker; if it gives a good 110+, then I would assume a wiring issue.   

[b5blue]

Breakers do fail. You need to find the "first" connection (wire nut) or device (outlet) in that line if the breaker is tested good. Keep in mind if you lost "ground" the tester would still have 110V on it and knock you on you butt if YOU supply ground!

[RECHRGD]

Hmm... I would reset the breaker anyways tripped or not. If still dead, bad breaker or wire loose/broke

I agree, try the easy stuff first.  Some breakers can be tripped and not look like it.  Force it to the OFF position then back to ON a coulple of times.

[moparguy01]

Well I tried forcing it on and off a few times to no avail. I'll try to get a voltmeter to check the breakers. None of the outlets in this line have any power so I think the breaker died.

[derailed]

Start at the breaker with a multimeter, if that's good I would trace the wire itself. They sell a tester at Blowes or Home Depot that you can hold up to a wire and it tells you if there is juice in it or not. The wire itself could have a short in it. I had this same thing happen to me last year and went around replacing all the outlets in the circuit since they were old anyways and finally found a bad one which was causing all the ones after it to not work.

[Tilar]

Well I tried forcing it on and off a few times to no avail. I'll try to get a voltmeter to check the breakers. None of the outlets in this line have any power so I think the breaker died.

Take the line off that breaker and tie it onto another breaker to see if the outlets become live.

[moparguy01]

well I decided that if I go any further into this I'm gonna fry myself. So my electrician is going to swing by tomorrow and see what we can find.

Thanks for the help everyone

[Rolling_Thunder]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mV6GIAs7i4&playnext=1&list=PL61358C88BC38EFCF

[BigBlackDodge]

I'm guessing a broken/loose wire in one of the outlets.



BBD

[moparguy01]

Well for some unknown reason the feed wire got a short in it. So we ran a new wire through the wall and I'm back in business. Not sure why it shorted though.

[derailed]

Glad you found it, had a feeling it was along those lines. I ran some new bx cable for my 220 air compressor a few months back and got some garbage wire from home depot right off the shelf. Made a nice flash when i first turned the breaker on. From now on I stick to the old shedule 40 conduit.