On Saturday, May 24, 2014 11:59:06 AM UTC-4, Frank Thompson wrote:
On Saturday, May 24, 2014 10:41:47 AM UTC-4, trader_4 wrote:



Most likely it's not behind a wall. There shouldn't be any wiring connections there if it was done to code. Far more likely the problem is a wire coming loose in one of the outlets, switches, etc that it's daisy chained through that then feed the ones that are out.

Find the other outlets/switches etc that are on that circuit, then find

the ones closest to the problem ones.



No other outlets or switches are on that circuit. This is in a 16 yo structure. My guess is that pressure of one of staples attaching wiring to stud finally touched hot wire, caused heating & hot wire finally broke.

I assume you've verified that voltge is present on the
wire at the breaker, by actually measuring it? And that
no voltage is present at the wire that comes from the breaker
to the first outlet? Any access to the wire from where it runs
from the panel to the first outlet, where you could test with one
of the none contact testers to verify that portion? Are you sure
there's no possibility that it runs to some other outlet with a GFCI
before going to the other two? Maybe even outside? It's common
for mysterious outlets going dead to be caused by a GFCI that you're
not even thinking about.

Also, have you considered possibly just running a new cable?
Depending on other access, eg basement, doing that could be easier
than tearing openwalls.