# After power outage all my bathroom outlets no longer work but lights still do **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2022, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985 "2022-07-15T05:28:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/41 "2022-07-17T12:59:06Z")
> [@a6ka97](#): > > when it come to working IN the breaker box I call a professional. When I sold my last house, the breaker my clothes dryer was on went bad. It turns out it was a brand of breaker that had a horrible reputation. I spoke with an electrician about it, but he’d only replace the entire box, he wouldn’t replace the single bad breaker. I ended up finding a replacement breaker at a little mom&pop hardware store. I did the job myself, perspiring the entire time like I was messing with C4. I wore rubber boots (there was a puddle by the box) and nearly collapsed in relief when the job was complete. ---
**Author:** ![Snipe70e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@Snipe70e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snipe70e)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/42 "2022-07-18T05:06:19Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I spoke with an electrician about it, but he’d only replace the entire box, he wouldn’t replace the single bad breaker. If your panel happened to be a Zinsco panel the electrician made the right choice. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/43 "2022-07-18T15:12:44Z")
> [@Snipe70e](#): > > If your panel happened to be a Zinsco panel the electrician made the right choice. Federal Pacific (FPE) is another panel that should be replaced. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/44 "2022-07-18T16:43:31Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Federal Pacific Federal Pacific was what it was!! ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/45 "2022-07-18T17:03:04Z")
> [@Capn\_Carl](#): > > This happened to my sister. We eventually found a GFCI outlet in the garage that had tripped. The garage is at the opposite end of the house from her bathrooms. I’m the opposite way. One day the garage door opener wouldn’t work. The light wasn’t even on. All of the breakers are working. Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot? I now know if the garage door opener won’t work anymore to go up to the hall bathroom & reset the GFCI button & it’ll instantly be working again. Not sure why the wired all of the bathrooms & the garage together but that’s hardly the only quirk of this house. ---
**Author:** ![Snipe70e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@Snipe70e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snipe70e)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/46 "2022-07-19T03:43:42Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Federal Pacific (FPE) is another panel that should be replaced. FPE may not be good panels. But a brand new Zinsco panel if below junk. and DAngerous. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/47 "2022-07-19T14:58:38Z")
Pardon my ignorance, but I never knew a GFCI outlet controlled multiple receptacles. I always thought if the power went out, just go to the fuse box and toggle the fuse(s) that tripped and the problem would be fixed. Isn’t this correct? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/48 "2022-07-19T15:09:23Z")
> [@medstar](#): > > but I never knew a GFCI outlet controlled multiple receptacles. I am not an electrician, but I believe a GFCI outlet can be wired to control only itself, or it can be wired to control itself and all ‘downstream’ outlets as well. ETA: [Line or Load With GFCI Connection](https://www.thespruce.com/line-or-load-gfci-connection-1152785) ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/49 "2022-07-19T16:02:08Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Maybe it is not a GFCI issue. You know how light bulbs may blow after a power outage As others mentioned, sometimes the panel breaker itself is GFI? But in that case, off-on should fix it. Also, open the panel and probe the wire coming out of the breaker to see if it’s got voltage. (Carefully!!) If you are not confident or not sure, get an electrician to do so, since in that case you’ll need an electrician to change what would likely be a bad breaker. Speed things up if you can tell him the make of panel and Amps of breaker before he comes. If the panel shows voltage coming out of the breaker, probe each outlet (both sides) or lightbulb socket in turn to see where voltage stops. My money’s betting on the breaker. It would be very weird for a regular outlet to fail, and scary if it’s the wires. If a wire is loose enough that it’s not connected (or worse, burned through) it’s a wonder the house didn’t burn down getting to there. In the days of portable AM transistor radios, one tip was to put an AM radio near an outlet to see if you hear massive static as it approaches the outlet - which could indicate a dangerous loose connection. > [@Spiderman](#): > > I’m the opposite way. One day the garage door opener wouldn’t work. The light wasn’t even on. All of the breakers are working. Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot? I now know if the garage door opener won’t work anymore to go up to the hall bathroom & reset the GFCI button & it’ll instantly be working again. Not sure why the wired all of the bathrooms & the garage together but that’s hardly the only quirk of this house. I assume lazy/cheap electrician. One GFI for all required outlets, bathroom and “outdoor”. I presume the garage door opener circuit continues to an outside outlet, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/50 "2022-07-19T16:21:45Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > In the days of portable AM transistor radios, one tip was to put an AM radio near an outlet to see if you hear massive static as it approaches the outlet - which could indicate a dangerous loose connection. As a former cable tech, I still have my tone generator set. You can clip this onto a cable, and then hear a tone generated as you wave the wand over it. This will also pick up that static off of a live outlet receptacle. (as well as find live electrical wires in the wall.) ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/51 "2022-07-19T17:21:18Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > I assume lazy/cheap electrician. One GFI for all required outlets, bathroom and “outdoor”. I presume the garage door opener circuit continues to an outside outlet, maybe? Nope; no exterior outlet on that side. The lights witch / AC plug are near the small (human) door end of the garage while the panel is near the large (car) door end of the garage. I’m guessing it was an oops, let’s connect the garage to some circuit. Does anyone else have _all_ of their bathrooms on the same circuit? I’m guessing multiple people drying their hair at the same time might be an issue although we’ve never had that situation in my house due to it being mostly males with shorter hair. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/52 "2022-07-19T18:24:58Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > As a former cable tech, I still have my tone generator set. You can clip this onto a cable, and then hear a tone generated as you wave the wand over it. > > This will also pick up that static off of a live outlet receptacle. (as well as find live electrical wires in the wall.) @Bob_Blaylock, do you own anything like this? ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Blaylock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_blaylock/32/3235_2.png) [@Bob\_Blaylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Blaylock)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/53 "2022-07-19T22:22:47Z")
Yes, I do. [I have this set.](https://www.triplett.com/products/3375-fox-hound-jr-compact-tone-probe-kit) It was a very lucky find at Deseret Industries, some years ago. Do you remember, when we both worked there, you were just getting off your shift, but I had a few hours yet in mine, this came in, and I handed it off to you to buy for me? It was priced at a dollar, and with our 20% discount for working there, discount, it came to 80¢. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/54 "2022-07-19T22:44:41Z")
I do not recall that item, but I’ll trust you on that. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/55 "2022-07-19T23:10:12Z")
open the door to the fuse box and give it a sniff. You may have fried a circuit breaker. It will still click back and forth but no electricity. I just went through this with my dryer. One of the 2 breakers died and you couldn’t tell by the click. But you could smell it. Find someone who can test the breaker in place. And while I’m thinking about it your outlets will be chained back to another outlet as discussed. THAT outlet can still work but the wiring can come loose on the downstream contacts. I’ve had that happen multiple times. And you might be able to test a circuit breaker in place using a [non-contact voltage tester](https://www.amazon.com/Non-Contact-Voltage-Tester-Flashlight-Detector/dp/B09224B5ZZ/ref=asc_df_B09224B5ZZ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=507647825193&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13403232613574331079&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9015822&hvtargid=pla-1329103295252&psc=1). You’d have to pull the panel face off which starts with shutting off the mains. You need to be confident working with exposed wires and what to avoid. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/56 "2022-07-19T23:36:17Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > The lights witch Light switch. Spacebar typo blundered that into something else entirely ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/57 "2022-07-26T16:19:48Z")
Well, what happened? Any conclusion to the story? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/58 "2022-07-30T18:53:10Z")
Yes, what did you find out? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985/59 "2022-07-30T18:59:15Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > > [@Spiderman](#): > > > > The lights witch > > Light switch. > Spacebar typo blundered that into something else entirely So that’s it! Blame it on the lights witch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-power-outage-all-my-bathroom-outlets-no-longer-work-but-lights-still-do/967985.md?page=2)