please help

[kippax71]

hi all,

please help me.

i'm new to the usa and need a little help with a problem.

i plugged a light into my bedroom socket last night and the socket popped which then stopped power going into that room and an adjoining room.

i checked the breaker box and that hadnt been switched off, and the room before the bedroom in which the socket blew still has power to it.

what would stop power getting to that room and how do i fix it..?

cheers

tim

[Mr T]

If you are renting, contact your landlord and have them repair it.

Otherwise....
Turn power off to that circuit, and VERIFY that you have the right circuit turned off! Do not assume

Pull the outlet out. You may notice that the wires are pushed into holes in the back instead of wrapped around the screws. If the outlet appears damaged or you are nto certain, get a new outlet and attach the wires to the screws. Black wires go to the brass colored screws (labeled hot), white wires go to the silver screws (which are labeled neutral on the back of teh outlet).

While you are at it, do this to the rest of the outlets on the circuit. There should be a tab to push in to release the wires. You dont need to replace the outlet unless it failed.

Check other rooms in your house, especially if there is a heavy load somewhere on that circuit.

This is called backstabbing. This technique is fast for the electrician but prone to failures.