I'm having a problem connecting two "white" aluminum wires. The "blacks" are joined with a connector and they both have power. The "whites" when joined have no power. When separated - one white has power and the other doesn't.(This use to be a ceiling light box with a pull cord in the basement laundry room.) The light is no longer in use. So I just need to connect the wires left in the box and close it off? I had a few different service people in recently (new furnace and HDtv) then I noticed that I had no power in the basement rec room plugs and my doorbell doesn't work - (the power for the doorbell also came from this box.). I have traced the problem to this box with a tester - it seems to be the only place where there is a connection poblem.

When everything is connected, do the outlets and bell work? If so, It was probably on a line with other lights or outlets and the pull chain completed the circuit for the light. If no breaker trips, nothing is happening and it just means power is flowing through the circuit. Does it trip the breaker? If not, wire nut them together, put them back in a box and cover it.