What would cause some outlets and lights to quit working while other ones on the same breaker still work? We tried resetting the breakers even though none had tripped. None of the lights or outlets have a GFI that might have tripped.
My husband was in the attic installing phone wire for a security camera and when he came down, half the side of the house on the front works, but the other half doesn't. Any ideas what might have happened?
He did drill a hole in the ceiling but checked to make sure he had not drilled into the wires. Then the lights and outlets that were working started dimming and getting bright again. He chased down the wiring and could not find any problems, but he was using a flashlight in the dark. Any help would be appreciated.
By Cindy
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Wowsers! The symptoms you are describing with the lights dimming, getting brighter, then going out sound very much like those one would expect with an arc fault. An arc fault is where a current carrying conductor is broken or interrupted, at least partially. Some current can get through, but the interrupted conductor (or bad connection) can't pass the full load, it resists the flow and starts heating up. With heat, may come sparks, or crackling and arcing. This can generate soot and melted insulation, and make the problem even worse.
A connection like this can arc and heat for years, or the heat from that little gap can start adjacent combustibles on fire. I can't say what caused your issue. But it is suspicious that the hubby was working up there.
Rather than risk it, I would turn off the breaker on that circuit and get an electrician in there right away. You could find the trouble yourself with the right test equipment. But it isn't cheap stuff. You could try a home store "stud finder" that has a built in check for alternating current (AC check). It would be a bit tedious. Just start at the last good receptacle. Sweep your stud finder back and forth and track your way over wall and ceiling to the point where it doesn't detect the AC. That might find your break.
Thousands of homes burn every year from arc fault related fires. Please be safe.
Call an electrician. This sounds like a house fire waiting to happen.
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