[wsgoods]

I have a problem with a single 20Amp circuit, there are two small rooms with receptacles and lights attached to this circuit. (Home built in 1976). The power goes out completely and the 20Amp breaker does not trip or get hot, there is not any power across the breaker and then approximately 10min later the power comes back on. What I have tried so far:

1. Moved breaker and exchanged with working circuits.
2. Exchanged with two new breakers
3. Disconnected everything from outlets.
4. Changed out all outlets, making sure the connections where tight.
5. Checked wiring connections to lights.
6. Changed out switches.
7. Checked all switch connections to make sure they are tight.
8. With breaker disconnected I used a probe to check continuity of wiring.
9. Problem still occurs intermittently and is driving me crazy.
10. As a note: If I toggle the breaker the power will not come back on, but, if I remove the breaker completely and reinsert it, the power will come back on immediately.

[tkrussell]

Sounds like you checked every connection, splice, and terminal in the circuit. There is always a chance, slim, but does happen, that there is a break in a wire inside the cable.

When you say you reset the breaker and no power, but R&R breaker restores power, are you testing the breaker output terminal each time, with a voltage tester?

To check each section of cable you will need a voltage tester, or a continuity tester. Even thou you may know, I will say it anyway, the circuit must be completely dead before using a continuity tester.

The break in the wire can surface when the circuit is used, heat will be created at the break, and the break can open the circuit. Or vibration can cause the break to open the circuit.

I hope I gave you some new items to check to find this problem.

[hkstroud]

Have you checked the nuetral connection in the pannel?