Earlier today I unplugged a vacuum cleaner from a socket in my hallway. After unplugging it, the lights would not work and the sockets would not work. I checked the breaker, nothing tripped. I replaced bulbs. Nothing. When I plugged the vacuum back in, everything worked. Any ideas of what may have happened?
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What a mystery!! Does the vacuum have to be plugged in constantly for things to work? This must be inconvenient, if so. I suspect you have a short or something. Bruce is an electrician who posts on here occasionally. Perhaps he can explain what's going on. If not, I'd call and electrician.
This could be explained by the loss of a shared neutral wire, which takes an electrician to fix. Example:
--breaker 1--------------|
Load 1
-- neutral ---------------|
If the neutral wire gets broke, it takes two loads to complete the circuit. It is 120 VAC from breaker 1 to neutral and 120 VAC from breaker 2 to neutral and 240 VAC from breaker 1 to breaker 3.
Loss of neutral on a shared neutral will result in lights burning either brighter or dimmer than normal because the voltage drop may not be 120 VAC across the load anymore.
I have just experienced the same type problem. I plugged the vaccum in and hit the power button and the power in my garage just went out. Checked all receptacles and even replaced one outside. Also checked the one GFI that was two rooms away and probably not affect by this.
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