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1990C4S 1990C4S is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North of You
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Tracing 120VAC Broken Wires

I have several 'dead' circuits in my house; it would appear that I have lost the 'live' side feeding a circuit, I do not have power to either neutral or ground. This problem affects lighting and receptacles from the front of my house to the back, it is very annoying, but likely only one circuit.

I am guessing that the problems are all related, i.e. if I find the broken wire everything downstream will work again. I am also hoping/assuming that the problem is between dead light fixture closest to the panel, and the panel.

I have checked both of my circuit breaker boxes, I don't think it is a breaker turned off or a loose wire. Everything checks out with a voltmeter.

I have had good success tracing vehicle wires with a 'fox and hound', I have had zero success chasing 120VAC wires in a wall or ceiling.

I need to trace the (possibly) broken wire back through the garage ceiling to the panel and see if it is broken in between. I do not want to break into the drywall hoping I am right.

Can anyone recommend a good 120 VAC wire tracer? Maybe this?

https://www.amazon.com/Greenlee-701K-G-Professional-Probe-Tracing/dp/B0042VII7A?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_5
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Old 10-29-2018, 12:04 PM
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