I plugged an electric drill into a basement outlet and the outlet and 3 overhead lights stopped working?

Question

I tested the outlet and got zero volts at the pigtail. The breaker was not tripped but I flipped it to be sure. Any ideas?

Answer 1

If the outlet and the 3 lights are the only things on that breaker then it would be my guess that your breaker is bad.

If there are other outlets or lights on the same breaker and they work then the breaker is okay and you have a different problem.

Sounds like you could have burned a wire with an overload from the drill and everything on that circuit past the point of the outlet will not work until the burned wire is repaired/replaced.

Take the outlet cover off and look for signs of a short.  Look for black burn marks... pitts in the metal of the box (if it is metal)... or melted insulation... or any two wires touching without insulation between them.

If none of that is the visible answer... you have to keep going back toward the breaker box until you find something that is not as it should be.  Sometimes these type of problems can be very difficult to identify and pinpoint.

If all else fails call in an electrician.  He will have the test equipment to diagnose the circuit and identify the problem, but that will not be cheap.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 2

try checking ur fuse box or see if u over heated a wire my drill always does that