Lounge electricians, I have a weird one for you. Help me out.
The issue is in the 2nd floor bathroom that the kids share. It has an overhead combo light and vent fan, as well as a 6 bulb fixture mounted over the mirror above the 2 sinks. In addition, 2 outlets with 2 plugs each. 1 on each side of the sinks, wall mounted.
Yesterday afternoon, the bathroom was being cleaned and everything was working fine. Overhead light and vent combo, wall lights, outlets.
Later that evening though, the wall mounted lights don't turn on. It's not like 6 bulbs all burned out simultaneously. The overhead FAN still works, BUT the overhead light comes on with a VERY faint light. Like it's trying to turn on, but can't. All the outlets work fine still.
My first thought would be "Circuit Breaker", but even before checking that, I'm thinking "First, how would the overhead fan actually be on a separate circuit from the lights? And even if it is, why is SOME juice still flowing to that overhead light?" So while it didn't make sense, I checked (to be continued
Posted: 05/21/2023 at 09:17 AM ET
Thread Replies (20)
Lounge electricians, I have a weird one for you. Help me out.
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-- Late 80s Hokie
May 21, 2023 at 09:17 AM ET
Late 80s Hokie
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05/21/23 09:17 AM ET
I THINK I solved it. Combo of "less than full information" and @Kudelski
-- Late 80s Hokie
May 21, 2023 at 11:04 AM ET
Late 80s Hokie
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05/21/23 11:04 AM ET
Similar problem for me
-- hokiehunter07
May 22, 2023 at 10:36 AM ET
hokiehunter07
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05/22/23 10:36 AM ET
Your bathroom lights "should" be on a separate breaker than your GFCI
-- PWR2LZ
May 21, 2023 at 11:40 AM ET
PWR2LZ
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05/21/23 11:40 AM ET
I have seen single switches go bad when left half way on. I think it
-- chemhokie
May 21, 2023 at 10:34 AM ET
chemhokie
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05/21/23 10:34 AM ET
I would definitely start with the switches. The fact that 2 of the 3 are
-- Coach McGuirk
May 21, 2023 at 10:46 AM ET
Coach McGuirk
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05/21/23 10:46 AM ET
Are the fan and light controlled by the same wall switch?
-- MP4VT2004
May 21, 2023 at 09:32 AM ET
MP4VT2004
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05/21/23 09:32 AM ET
Separate switches. Could be on to something there. 3 switches total
-- Late 80s Hokie
May 21, 2023 at 09:34 AM ET
Late 80s Hokie
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05/21/23 09:34 AM ET
Pop the faceplate and see if the wires are all still connected**
-- EDGEMAN
May 21, 2023 at 02:00 PM ET
EDGEMAN
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05/21/23 02:00 PM ET
Sprayed or wiped with liquid cleaner?
-- Stork
May 21, 2023 at 09:47 AM ET
Stork
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05/21/23 09:47 AM ET
(Note: this severability clause did not appear in MP4's DW repair video)**
-- PhotoHokieNC
May 21, 2023 at 10:20 AM ET
PhotoHokieNC
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05/21/23 10:20 AM ET
Did you accidentally hit the GFCI when you were cleaning?
-- VT48uva0
May 21, 2023 at 09:24 AM ET
VT48uva0
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05/21/23 09:24 AM ET
Checked that. Not the issue. And if it was, wouldn't that have taken out
-- Late 80s Hokie
May 21, 2023 at 09:33 AM ET
Late 80s Hokie
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05/21/23 09:33 AM ET
Did you check all GFCI in the house?
-- Kudelski
May 21, 2023 at 09:48 AM ET
Kudelski
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05/21/23 09:48 AM ET
Yeah, my first thought was tripped GFI until you mentioned that...
-- MP4VT2004
May 21, 2023 at 09:44 AM ET
MP4VT2004
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05/21/23 09:44 AM ET
Probably although I have multiple ones in my bathroom
-- VT48uva0
May 21, 2023 at 09:37 AM ET
VT48uva0
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05/21/23 09:37 AM ET
Age of house? Coincident that cleaning took place?
-- Stork
May 21, 2023 at 09:23 AM ET
Stork
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05/21/23 09:23 AM ET