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The lights (can lights) in our familyroom don't work when switched on. Coincidentally, an outlet in the hallway, just outside the family room doesn't work, and also the light in the entry/foyer (although it's not quite big enough to call a "foyer") does not work either. I'm guessing they share the same circuit. The confusing thing is, is that the circuit is not blown or switched off.

When this started, it was an on again off again thing...the lights and outlet worked all day, would go out for a little bit, and start working again. When it started to do it more frequently, late last week, I would just flip the circuit off then on again to see if it would help. IIR, the first time I switched the circuit off/on, the lights started working..but I don't recall if it was immediate or took a minute or two, but the lights and outlet started working (and it may not have had anything to do with my switching the circuit off/on). Then when they stopped working again, the switching of the circuit off/on didn't do the trick anymore. So, my guess is maybe it is a faulty circuit, even though the circuit doesn't go off when the lights and outlet stop working. We had this problem about a year ago with a circuit, in a different part of the house IIR. I was trying to remember the problem back then, and I think that the problem then was that the circuit would go off, and when I'd try and turn it back on it would immediately go off (and probably make an intimidating "POOF" or "POPPING" sound...not good).

What say ye....

ahhhh....it's all becoming clear to me.... 🤨

LOL

This is not a thread to discuss your sexual preferences....move along. 🖐

Cookie dough in a tube is pretty good. 😰

now I'm threadjacking my own thread 🤨

I did pull out the family room light switch (dimmer). Everything seems to be ok...wires are held by screws. I didn't check the outlet or the other hall light switches.

Feel the walls and make sure its not hot inside the drywall.

A volt meter is really helpful for finding where you are dropping power, but you can probably deduce it by just plugging things in as well.

At some point, you should determine where your feed from the breaker enters the circuit. Work down the line and find out where the connection breaks.

Wire nuts are a likely culprit...........you may find a bunch of white wires tied into wire nuts in the switch boxes.

Re-do these connections, paying close attention to be sure you have a good electrical AND mechanical connection.

Typical engineer............ran a test which produced useless results, blamed it on another department, then left.

aka Jewish Lightening. =d>

So I checked the outlet mentioned above, behind the couch, and it has no voltage, just "continuity." After that I went on a mission through the entire house, 1st floor, 2nd floor, basement, and sub-basement aka tinfoil room aka fallout shelter (just kidding), and checked all light switches and outlets. Well, maybe not every light switch. I didn't check the ones that actually turned on/off a light when switched...I assumed it worked at that point. I found 2 outlets and one switch with no voltage (just continuity) in one of the bedrooms (upstairs)...if that means anything. So I've narrowed it down to 4 outlets and 4 switches. Two of those light switches are 3-ways (2 switches that turn on one light, in the entryway). Good news is none of the switches or outlets look fried. I guess that's good and bad. Good that nothing started fire. Bad that I still have no clue and couldn't pinpoint it to one outlet or switch saving me the expense of an electrician. 🤦

So, that's all I got. I guess I can pass that info along to the electrician when he shows up...fwiw.

edit: I almost forgot...while going through the entire house, I found my old Evel Knevel lunchbox in the basement. AND it had the thermos. I thought I lost the thermos, but there it was in the lunchbox.