What causes the electric sockets in a room to stop working.?

Question

2 sockets, upstairs room. The light still works and it's not the circuit breaker or fuse box.

Answer 1

The "burnt out sockets" might be downstream of a GFI protected outlet that has popped. Try to find the GFIs in your house and verify that they are all working, if not reset them and re-test the other 2 outlets.

GFI outlets are typically found in bathrooms and kitchens. But you might also find them on your deck, garage, or basement.

Ruling this out, if the connection to one of the outlets (inside the junction box behind the outlet itself) as come loose, then downstream outlets (the other one) can also loose power.

To remedy this, flip the controlling breaker. Armed with a $6 voltage detector, open up the outlet, test to ensure all the wires you see are dead (from having turned the breaker off) and secure loose connections.

The detector I speak of is a MUST have before working on electricity. It will beep and blink its light when it comes NEAR anything that is hot charged. Even if its a fully insulated hot wire.

Good luck.

Answer 2

firm_shak has a good idea about the GFI circuits, so I won't elaborate on that. Another cause is the type of outlets builders use. I am referring to the type where the wire is stripped and inserted into the rear of the plug. These offer a poor connection and often come loose. The circuits are in series and if connection is lost in one it will affect anything downstream. Get a circuit tester from the hardware store that has three lights, only cost about $6.00. Check the outlets in question. You should have two lights light if the circuit is good. If you find no lights, check for a tripped GFI. If there is not a GFI in the circuit, turn off the breaker, remove one of the plugs and check if the wires are plugged in, or attached to the screws. If plugged in, push a small straight slot screwdriver into the slot next to the wire and remove, and attach the wire to the screw. I would recommend doing this to all the plugs in the room, normally they will be on the same circuit.
As a safety precaution, a non-contact voltage tester should also be used to ensure no power is present when working on circuits. Will be about $12 at Home Depot. It will also indicate power in receptacles without removing them, simply insert it into the smaller (hot) slot of the receptacle.

Answer 3

Yes----Usually only 1 wall plug will be turned on and off by a light switch---then again you may have no wall plugs in the room controlled by any light switch. A ceiling light fixture should be controlled by a wall light switch,and on a different circuit line from the 2 "dead" wall plugs. Do this >>make sure--reset breakers--turn off ,then firmly reset it. If you have fuses,then inspect closely for a burned out one. All fine up to this point ? Ok then --now to be on the safe side with you -- turn off all electrical power at the circuit breaker/fuse box. You might want to grab a flashlight and a flat blade screwdriver now ,and go upstairs to the room.Make sure the wall plugs are truly "dead". Take the screwdriver and remove the wall plug cover plate ,and the plug itself--any visible damage>burned wires/bad plug? Do the same on the other "dead" wall plug.What"s going on is; electricity is coming in to the "1st" lead wall plug,and then on-out to the 2nd wall plug-- feeding "juice" to it also. If the 1st wall plug/wire is burned--then this is the problem.I would,at this time,simple replace both wall plugs(good practice)and clean/dress out all the wire ends. Turn power back on afterwards,and you just might have fixed the problem,all by yourself. Merry Christmas.

Answer 4

Take the front of your plug sockets and check the wires are not loose also check the wiring with a mains tester screwdriver the type with a little light that comes on if there is power getting to the socket but be careful!!! also check different circuit's in the house also check if your neighbors are having or have had the same problem as this may be an ongoing fault in your area

Answer 5

I would recheck the breaker and fuse box. Sometimes breakers look set and they're really popped.

I would ALSO check to see if both the upper and lower plugs were off. Friend of mine found out that when a wall switch went off in his room, it killed one of the two (upper or lower, I don't recall). If only the upper or lower plug is off, look for a wall switch that needs flipping up.

Answer 6

Sounds like a break in a wire along the way. Upstairs means wires in the attic possibly so maybe squirells or something are at it. Could also be a loose connection in a junction box. Be sure to find it though, could be dangerous.

Answer 7

There can be a short in the wire or in the circuit itself at the point of the socket.

Answer 8

An electric stove usually has a dedicated 240 Volt 50 Amp circuit. There is no connection between that and any other receptacles.

Answer 9

a short in the light fixture

Answer 10

1) tripped breaker
2) tripped gfci
3) bad connection
4) switched outlet not on
5)broken wire