[zig840]

Hello all. I'm trying to determine if I need to replace a breaker or not. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I have 4 outlets (all plug in type outlets) that have lost the electric current to them. They have all worked fine in the past. Not sure what's happened.
Breakdown: 1 outlet (and it's the only outlet) in the master bathroom, 1 outlet (and it's the only outlet) in the hall bathroom, and 2 exterior outlets (one on the front porch and one on the back porch).
In the electric panel, there is a AFCI breaker with a "test" button on it. The breaker is not thrown/is fully engaged. I checked it/threw/reset it multple times. The only issue I notice is the test button is very hard to depress. I have to press it hard many times before it carries out the test function tripping the breaker.
I have checked all the outlets and all appear normal with good connections. I have a simple voltage tester and none of the outlets have power to/from them.
Bad breaker?

[hkstroud]

Is that breaker an AFCI (Arc Fault Ciruit Interrupter) of a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)? AFCI circuits would be circuit to bedroom. GFCI circuit would be to bath room and to exterior.
If you do not have a GFCI breaker one or more of the bath and exterior outlets should be GFI. If you have GFI outlets have you tried the reset button there?

[zig840]

The breaker is labeled AFCI. Didn't know what that was till now. Thanks. I do have a GFIC outlet in the kitchen and one in the garage. They are working fine as they are in use. I did however reset them just in case but to no avail. Something seems weird her, huh? Thanks for your help hkstoud!

[hkstroud]

Check for other GFI outlets. If the ones in the kitchen and garage are working there must be one in bathroom. A GFI outlet can protect not only itself but other outlets down stream from it. Depending on when house was built and code enforce at the time, a bathroom outlet and exterior outlets must be GFI protected. The fact that you have an AFCI indicates that wiring came under a fairly recent code. Recent codes mandate that a bathroom circuit serve only bathrooms.

[hkstroud]

How are you checking breakers? Some breakers do not move very much when tripped. It sometimes can be difficult to tell that a breaker has tripped by looking at it. Check by pushing on it toward the center of the pannel. If it feels spongy it has tripped. If in doubt turn breaker off and then back on.

[zig840]

Check for other GFI outlets. If the ones in the kitchen and garage are working there must be one in bathroom. A GFI outlet can protect not only itself but other outlets down stream from it. Depending on when house was built and code enforce at the time, a bathroom outlet and exterior outlets must be GFI protected. The fact that you have an AFCI indicates that wiring came under a fairly recent code. Recent codes mandate that a bathroom circuit serve only bathrooms.

Thanks for the help hk. To answer your question though, there are no GFIC'S in either bathroom. This hse was built in 1992. Anyway, looks like someone tried to bring it up to codes after the fact.

Anyway, problem solved! As a last resort, I finally thought to unplug everything from the 2 GFIC'S that I do have and then reset them and voilà! Power is back to the outlets. I guess reseting the GFIC'S while under a load/being used dosen't work.
Thanks again!

[hkstroud]

That's an indication that one of the appliances that was plugged in is defective. The GFI was doing its job.
A GFI will reset under load (if the appliance is not defective.)

[redsonlee]

Check for power to ground at ground fault, if good you have a faulty unit