Circuit stopped working, breaker did not trip

nr5667 · 04-30-2010, 07:54 PM

Hello there, recently bought a condo.

Anyway...

There are two circuits for the lights. One of these circuits has stopped working, but the breaker did not trip (and flipping it back and forth did not fix the problem).

Now, the lights started working again for a brief moment, but then they all went out again.

Any idea what could be causing this?

I will admit that I redid all the light fixtures, would messing up the install of one cause all of them to stop working? What would cause them to stop working that would not trip the breaker?

When changing the wires, I just used the existing connection, so I didn't change anything that would effect the continuity of connections from light to light...

Thank you so much, this is a whee bit aggravating. The odd thing is, this happened during the time I was changing a light switch, and adding GFCI outlets in the kitchen all of which are on other circuits, all the breakers were off.

Any ideas? Anyway to discern the problem without spending lots of money?

Thanks,
Nick

nr5667 · 04-30-2010, 08:07 PM

Ooooooooh, nevermind. Well, at least that didn't light the walls on fire. Aluminum wires, who's brilliant idea was that? Those things seem to be awfully brittle.

secutanudu · 04-30-2010, 08:30 PM

What was your solution?

nr5667 · 04-30-2010, 08:49 PM

I must have yanked a bit too hard, and inadvertantly snapped one of the aluminum wires that leads other light fixtures, so... just stripped a bit more off and reconnected it.