Changing LightBulb gave Electric Problem? [updated qestion with lots of pics]?

Question

There were sockets in our hanging fixture over the dining table that bulbs were still broken inside. Someone was trying to take them out with plyers when POOF! All of the lights went out in the dining room & kitchen. I flicked the breaker on and off; still nothing. His plyers have a burn mark. Did he completely burn out the wiring in the dining room and kitchen?

here is the chandelier type of lightning fixure that had the broken bulbs in it:
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb29/nettacherrrytwist/0light001.jpg

here is a close up of one of the sockets in the hanging fixture; you can still see like a wire or metal piece hanging out:
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb29/nettacherrrytwist/0light002.jpg

Here is the light fixture in our kitchen, which is not working now either:
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb29/nettacherrrytwist/0light003.jpg

Here is the light switches:
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb29/nettacherrrytwist/0light004.jpg

PLEASE READ: I just realized this, and maybe it will help someone to piece together this puzzle and figure out a solution. I really want to avoid calling an electrician if possible. So, there are three light switches on one panel. One is to the kitchen light, NOT WORKING NOW. The second is to the dining room light, NOT WORKING NOW. But the third is to the stairs down to the family room, and it STILL WORKS. So, does this information help at all? Thank you so much for all of your help. I know we messed up in the way we tried to remove the broken bulbs (I suggested a potato) but what's done is done. Please HELP!! :)

Answer 1

First of all, don't allow "someone" near anything
electrical again. (The poor fool might have died.)

Second, it's highly unlikely that you
'burned' any wiring. - Thats what breakers are
designed to prevent. While it's possible that
the short damaged the breaker, this is also unlikely.

Are you sure that you cycled the correct breaker?
Did you cycle it all the way 'off` and back to 'on`?

The photo of the socket is unclear, but you mention
"a piece of metal sticking out". If there is still a short,
the breaker will immediately trip again if you try to
close it.

WITH THE BREAKER IN THE OFF POSITION..
try to be sure that there is no short remaining in the socket,
and then try to reset the breaker.

If the above fails, I'm afraid you have done all that
you ought to attempt alone. Call a Pro.

Answer 2

If you know what you are doing you could try replacing the breaker which might be hosed. Otherwise I think you should cal an electrician.

If "someone" tried to take broken lightbulbs out of a powered light fixture with metal pliers, I suspect calling an electrician might be the best bet.

Answer 3

I won't even look at the pictures because they won't show what I suspect is the problem.

When the light socket shorted out, a bad connection somewhere MELTED off at about the same time the breaker tripped.

If you are melting wiring, it is time to get a qualified electrician involved. There are probably other spots almost as bad.

Answer 4

With properly functioning breakers and normal wiring up to code, it is unlikely that the wiring would burn out prior to the switch or the breaker.
If both light circuits in the dining room and kitchen are non-functioning I suspect it is the breaker that is blown.

Answer 5

Call an electrician.
You probably shorted the wiring out with the pliers which probably cross-connected the circuit. Next time turn off the breaker before you stick metal objects ino a socket. Lucky he did not shock himself or you.

Answer 6

Well, definately call an electrician. Don't mess with it for safety's sake.....