On Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at 3:17:27 PM UTC-4, Clare Snyder wrote:
On Tue, 21 Apr 2020 09:51:09 -0700 (PDT), TimR
wrote:

Something went bad on a circuit that used to work.

Could be any of the appliances on receptacles. But you unplugged them.

Could be a short in a receptacle. I've seen it, but rarely. In my limited experience these tend not to behave like an overload, but like a short. Your symptoms sound like overload rather than short. Same for wiring.

Can't be a short in a bulb. Those usually just blow.

Don't bet the farm on it. I've had nimerous 12 volt automotive bulbs
short, and a few 120 volt incandescents. Had one Compact flourescent
that would pop fuses.

Did you ever see it with the light switch off?




So, what's left? The dimmer. That is the first place I'd look. I've seen a lot of these go bad.

And I've NEVER seen one short to ground. Generally the blow open, and
if they fail closed they just keep the lights on.

Why start at the breaker? I usually start at the other end.

Generally start in the middle of the circuit, then in the middle of
the sector that fails. Most likely cause is a black wire shorted to
grounf - like a wire nut fell off - or a wire pinched. Is it Romex or
sheilded cable or conduit???