"Donna" wrote in message

I'm stumped. I need your help. And, worse yet, I don't have much to tell
you. And, it's hard to explain. But I'll try as I'm not sure what to do
next.

- I have a dead circuit in my house (6 outlets in toto)
- The dead circuit "seems" to have gone dead after I put a bathroom
switches in but I don't remember exactly when it went dead
- The bathroom timed-light switch works perfectly fine though, so I don't
see how they could be the source of the problem
- All the house circuit breakers have been set and reset scores of times
- The circuit that is dead contains GCFI boxes and regular outlets
- Specifically, the dead circuit contains 6 outlets, all dead
a) bathroom 1 GCFI outlet (dead)
b) bathroom 2 GCFI outlet (dead)
c) bedroom 1 GCFI outlet (dead)
d) bedroom 1 regular outlet (dead)
e) outside two weatherproofed outlets (dead)

When I put a circuit tester into each of the dead outlets, nothing lights
up. Other outlets in the same bedroom work just fine. All but two of the
dead outlets are along the same wall while the other two are nearby. No
other outlets or switches in the house seem to have a problem.

What more information can I provide so you can help me debug why I have
these dead circuits? I'm sorry this is so frustrating but I don't know
what
to do for the next step. I'd take pictures but I don't know what to take a
picture of for you.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Question: Why all those separate GFCI outlets? Perhaps can see 'one'
to protect all devices on that circuit in say the bathroom.

Although have been reading on this group that under some electrical
codes bathrooms 'now' should be on a separate circuit and have for
bathroom safety one GFCI protecting everything on that circuit.

The outside outlets are not mentioned as GFCI? Why not? Perhaps at
least the first one on that run (which might be inside the house?) or
the first one outside on that run should be GFCI!

Is the wiring a non standard mess? Maybe home wired (or extra outlets
added) by someone who didn't understand? Possibly with neutrals, or
something shared between circuits?

Also the OP should appreciate that the GFCIs operate to protect human
life when there is a 'difference' of current flow between the live
wire (usually black!) and the neutral (usually white). One assumption
for the use of GFCIs is that such a difference could be due to a
faulty appliance or device leaking to ground through a human body! A
person standing on wet/damp grass operating a faulty (electrically
leaking) metal handled electric lawnmower for example.

GFCIs, despite their name, are supposed to work even if there is 'no
ground' connected or the ground is broken at the outlet! A broken off
ground pin on the plug of an appliance for example. In some countries
the devices are referred to as RCDs, not Ground Fault Devices!

However one mis-wire could result in a major unbalance so that the
GFCI/GFCIs will never reset for normal operation.

Could be something significant there; especially if circuits have been
extended or tacked on later to original wiring!!!!! Be careful.

Sounds like a mis-wiring problem at or after the bathroom timer/light
switch????? Does that timer have a leakage to ground or is it the type
that sits there with a little bit of current going through to the
light bulb so that the timer will work? Even though light/fan is off?

Also what kind of bulb (regular bulb/s or CFL? And also what else does
the timer operate, the bathroom fan also? May prove once again that
some of these newer (electronic) devices are not always compatible
with each other. So you cannot always just join up new ones to an
existing circuit?

Older bathroom timers, for example, were 'sort of mechanical'; you
cranked them over and they ticked away, clockwork-like, for 20 30
minutes until the bathroom exhaust fan had done its job getting rid of
humidity and odours?

Suggest someone with electrical knowledge provide assistance.