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hskrgrl7 · Mar 9, 2008, 07:48 PM

I just bought a house and have not had any issues until I tried to plug my daughter's TV into the cable line in her room. Instantly, all of the lights went out (which are wired into the electrical outlet since she doesn't have an overhead light). We have tested the breakers and nothing has worked. It's not showing any breakers needing reset. All of the other lights (including her bedroom closet) and plug ins are working, just not the ones in her bedroom. I'm trying to find out what could have caused this.

Missouri Bound · Mar 9, 2008, 08:35 PM

A few questions. When you say wired into the electrical outlet, do you mean plugged in? Is there a switch on the wall that may control outlets? And any chance your TV connection may have tripped a GFCI somewhere in the area... maybe an attached bathroom? And as far as showing breakers needing reset... they often just trip and move a very small distance. You sometimes have to feel them to see if they have tripped for the actual tripped position may not be indicated. Don't live with the problem. If you can't track it down find someone qualified to do so.

donf · Mar 9, 2008, 09:04 PM

First explain how you plugged your TV into the cable outlet. Cable supplies RC6 coax type cable which has no place for a 120 outlet.
Did you try the TV in another room to see if it "toes up dead"?

As the previous poster asked, is this end of run outlet (one pair) or start of run / pass through (two pair) outlet and is it tied to a GFCI outlet in your daughters bathroom.

Do you own a Volt Ohm meter? If you do, I want you to set the meter on 250VAC. Stick the black probe into the longer of the two slots and the red probe into the adjacent slot. Wiggle them around and see if you can pick up a reading.

If the outlet is hot, you should read 120 +/- Volts. If you read zero. Then you can out the outlet and look for a loose or open connection point.

Make one more test across the black and white wires. If it is still dead, then it is safe to repair or replace the outlet. After you finish, plug a working light into the socket.

Final step is to go to your main panel box, find the breaker that supplies that room and pull it towards the off position as hard as you can, then flip the meter back on. If the light lights up, you are finished. If the light stays off, you will have to work your way back to the CB to find the short.

ahmeepro · Mar 11, 2008, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by hskrgrl7

I just bought a house and have not had any issues until I tried to plug my daughter's tv into the cable line in her room. Instantly, all of the lights went out (which are wired into the electrical outlet since she doesn't have an overhead light). We have tested the breakers and nothing has worked. It's not showing any breakers needing reset. All of the other lights (including her bedroom closet) and plug ins are working, just not the ones in her bedroom. I'm trying to find out what could have caused this.

I had a similar problem happen to me and was wondering if I can get any suggestions. One of my circuits to my DR, a half bath, up-stair rear BR and garage lights (not outlets) just went dark last night. I remember turning on the DR ceiling light and it flickered and then went out. That's when my son said his room went dark.

I check the break box numerous times and the circuit didn't trip and I can find a GFCI in any of the affect places. Is there another step I can take?

hskrgrl7 · Mar 11, 2008, 08:18 AM

Thanks to everyone and the advice. Just to clarify, when I meant plugged the TV in, I meant that we plugged the TV into the wall outlet, then we connected the 'cable' cable to the TV. We also connected her dvd player (to the wall and tv). When my fiancé went to turn it on, that's when the room went dark (because her lamp is plugged into the wall and operated by the wall switch). Resetting breakers has not helped and I don't have the Volt Ohm Meter as mentioned previously by Don. We do however have home warranty (thank goodness) and I decided to just call them to ensure I don't end up doing anything to fry my lovely new home :). I have an electrician coming in to take a look today and will repost with an update (possibly to help ahmeepro) with what it ended up being. Just to note, she doesn't have an adjacent bathroom.. but there is a bathroom by her bedroom, just not in it.. not sure if that mattered or not, but that GFCI was also reset, and no change. Thanks again to everyone for their help!