Hello, I have a general question which is stumping me. In the panel there is a 20 amp breaker that controls light switches in both bathrooms, master closet, and outlets in the dining area. The outlets all work fine, however, the light switches in both bathrooms and master closet do not work. The two GFI outlets in each bathroom are not hooked up to this circuit. They both work fine. I even replaced the GFI just to be on the safe side. Can anybody explain why only half of this circuit works?

 

You could have a wire connection that's come loose in the wall - hopefully at a junction box you can access. I'd start opening switch plates and looking around. It'll be harder to diagnose and fix if it's something like a squirrel has chewed through a wire in the attic. Worst case, you have to run new wire. But you have a lot of tracing and testing to do before you should resort to that.

 

You could have a wire connection that's come loose in the wall - hopefully at a junction box you can access. I'd start opening switch plates and looking around. It'll be harder to diagnose and fix if it's something like a squirrel has chewed through a wire in the attic. Worst case, you have to run new wire. But you have a lot of tracing and testing to do before you should resort to that.

Thanks for the prompt reply. Is there a way to tell where the beginning of the circuit starts? The outlets all work. Only the light switches do not. Would the light switches be wired after the light switches?

 

Let's start with a simple question: Are you sure the switches are switching something that works?

You can open up an outlet and the nearest non-working switch. (Carefully) probe with a lightbulb (something like a highlight or small wattage on a cord) to see where there is power and where there is not. Using a meter can give confusing results. A real load like the lightbulb is better. Check hot to ground and hot to neutral. Both should light the bulb.

 

Let's start with a simple question: Are you sure the switches are switching something that works?

You can open up an outlet and the nearest non-working switch. (Carefully) probe with a lightbulb (something like a highlight or small wattage on a cord) to see where there is power and where there is not. Using a meter can give confusing results. A real load like the lightbulb is better. Check hot to ground and hot to neutral. Both should light the bulb.

Thank you again for the quick reply. Two wall switches control each bathrooms vanity lights. The other 2 wall switches control each bathrooms fans, and one wall switch controls the overhead light in the master closet. None of those wall switches work. I have not yet replaced the breaker in the panel yet because my logic told me that the problem isn't in the panel. I will try your suggestion over the weekend. This thread goes to my email so I get alerts. Thank again, Rich

 

How sure are you that all of these are actually on the same breaker?

 

How sure are you that all of these are actually on the same breaker?

My question exactly. A breaker can sometimes let go and not be obvious. Try toggling all of them, or at least feeling their positions, to be sure each is firmly reset. A tripped breaker is many times more likely than a wiring failure.