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    bigdave215's Avatar
    bigdave215 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jul 22, 2010, 02:05 AM
    Electrical outage problem with several outlets and switches
    Hello,

    I recently was watching TV and I lost power to two outlets and I also lost power to two lights. I tried to reset a breaker, but the breakers were all working. I thought one of the light switches was bad so I started to check it.

    It looks like the outlets all run in a series, but the only way I can get power to any lights/outlets is to connect the black wire to the bare ground wire. Once I do that the power is restored to all the outlets and lights.

    What am I missing? Shouldn't I be able to connect all of the black, white and grounds together and have the lights work?
    JoeTime's Avatar
    JoeTime Posts: 4, Reputation: 2
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    #2

    Jul 22, 2010, 07:20 AM

    Connecting the black or "hot" wire to the bare or "ground" wire should never be done! If switches are involved then sometimes the white or "neutral" wire is used as a "hot" or "switch leg" for lighting.
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