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Late 80s Hokie
Joined: 10/29/2001
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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)

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Lounge electricians, I have a weird one for you. Help me out.
Late 80s Hokie 05/21/23 09:17 AM ET
I THINK I solved it. Combo of "less than full information" and @Kudelski
Late 80s Hokie 05/21/23 11:04 AM ET
Similar problem for me
hokiehunter07 05/22/23 10:36 AM ET
Your bathroom lights "should" be on a separate breaker than your GFCI
PWR2LZ 05/21/23 11:40 AM ET
Continued
Late 80s Hokie 05/21/23 09:19 AM ET
I have seen single switches go bad when left half way on. I think it
chemhokie 05/21/23 10:34 AM ET
I would definitely start with the switches. The fact that 2 of the 3 are
Coach McGuirk 05/21/23 10:46 AM ET
Are the fan and light controlled by the same wall switch?
MP4VT2004 05/21/23 09:32 AM ET
Separate switches. Could be on to something there. 3 switches total
Late 80s Hokie 05/21/23 09:34 AM ET
…one 220…the other 221**
chumley 05/21/23 02:45 PM ET
Pop the faceplate and see if the wires are all still connected**
EDGEMAN 05/21/23 02:00 PM ET
Sprayed or wiped with liquid cleaner?
Stork 05/21/23 09:47 AM ET
My guess is...
MP4VT2004 05/21/23 09:43 AM ET
(Note: this severability clause did not appear in MP4's DW repair video)**
PhotoHokieNC 05/21/23 10:20 AM ET
Did you accidentally hit the GFCI when you were cleaning?
VT48uva0 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 05/21/23 09:33 AM ET
Did you check all GFCI in the house?
Kudelski 05/21/23 09:48 AM ET
Yeah, my first thought was tripped GFI until you mentioned that...
MP4VT2004 05/21/23 09:44 AM ET
Probably although I have multiple ones in my bathroom
VT48uva0 05/21/23 09:37 AM ET
Age of house? Coincident that cleaning took place?
Stork 05/21/23 09:23 AM ET
25 years old.**
Late 80s Hokie 05/21/23 09:23 AM ET