Master bedroom closet/ bathroom no power

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J

Joe Rocker

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Here’s a situation I need help with. Son in law was putting in new bulb holder with a pull string in master closet. He said he hit neutral wire with his screwdriver and there was a spark. As of now, no power (light) in master closet, master bedroom has 2 receptacles out, light in master bathroom and gfci in master bathroom not working. The light in the master bedroom does work. I checked all the breakers in the panel, reading 120 volts but wire coming down from the ceiling in closet has no power.
The master closet, definitely 14g wire and the gfci in the master bathroom is using 12g wire. It’s a double gang box in the bathroom with a single pole next to the gfci. I know a little bit, but running out of things I can do. One more thing, he said when this occurred, he never had to go out and reset a breaker
 
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First off, bare bulb lamp holders are not legal to use in closets, since this is a pull chain, I would not say it’s a walk-in closet. Second check continuity between the neutral and ground on the receptacles that are out, if open, it is probably a gfi hidden somewhere, since resi guys are known to grab power from anywhere, check the garage or any outdoor receptacles. They like to loop as many things as possible to keep from buying another gfi! LOL!
 
hillbilly1 said:
First off, bare bulb lamp holders are not legal to use in closets, since this is a pull chain, I would not say it’s a walk-in closet. Second check continuity between the neutral and ground on the receptacles that are out, if open, it is probably a gfi hidden somewhere, since resi guys are known to grab power from anywhere, check the garage or any outdoor receptacles. They like to loop as many things as possible to keep from buying another gfi! LOL!
Click to expand...
Home was built in the 1960s, and yes, lots of things I noticed that are not code. Thank you for your response.
 
Is the box in question a metal one? I think he practiced welding without a permit to where that wire entered the box.
The 60's style box's were not up to today's design of how a wire enters a box.
That aged box would as clamped applied pitched into the side of the opening that was in the curl edge of the steel box.
I'd look there.
 
cadpoint said:
Is the box in question a metal one? I think he practiced welding without a permit to where that wire entered the box.
The 60's style box's were not up to today's design of how a wire enters a box.
That aged box would as clamped applied pitched into the side of the opening that was in the curl edge of the steel box.
I'd look there.
Click to expand...
Yes, metal box in the closet
 
I agree, GFCI.

Other:
White wire does not always equate to Neutral so that may add a level of investigation. Look for switched neutral. Make sure switches are functional.

hillbilly1 said:
First off, bare bulb lamp holders are not legal to use in closets, since this is a pull chain, I would not say it’s a walk-in closet. Second check continuity between the neutral and ground on the receptacles that are out, if open, it is probably a gfi hidden somewhere, since resi guys are known to grab power from anywhere, check the garage or any outdoor receptacles. They like to loop as many things as possible to keep from buying another gfi! LOL!
Click to expand...
 
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