Some ceiling lights in kitchen not working.

[Taltarzac725]

I went into our garage and looked at the circuit breaker box and it looked like I found the one that is not working and purchased a replacement at Ace yesterday.

Just curious about the circuit breaker box? I can easily make sure the light switches are off in the kitchen.

Do these circuit breakers of which they had a number of 20s in basket at Ace just plug into the board or do you have to take the whole door off and do wiring? Eaton Cutler-Hammer 20 amps Plug In Single Pole Circuit Breaker


https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lighting-and-electrical/circuit-breakers-fuses-and-panels/circuit-breakers/31481

I will probably just call an electrician but am interested in why they would sell these out in a basket in Ace if a lot of work is involved? Lots of different kinds of screws holding the door on.

And I do not feel like electrocuting myself by taking the door off as it looks like it still will have power coming in from above even if the circuit board's main power switch is off?

[Joeint]

I went into our garage and looked at the circuit breaker box and it looked like I found the one that is not working and purchased a replacement at Ace yesterday.

Just curious about the circuit breaker box? I can easily make sure the light switches are off in the kitchen.

Do these circuit breakers of which they had a number of 20s in basket at Ace just plug into the board or do you have to take the whole door off and do wiring? Eaton Cutler-Hammer 20 amps Plug In Single Pole Circuit Breaker


https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lighting-and-electrical/circuit-breakers-fuses-and-panels/circuit-breakers/3414497?store=03126&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1dvNqt_g_gIV__LjBx0EFgWVEAQYASAB EgLKefD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I will probably just call an electrician but am interested in why they would sell these out in a basket in Ace if a lot of work is involved? Lots of different kinds of screws holding the door on.

And I do not feel like electrocuting myself by taking the door off as it looks like it still will have power coming in from above even if the circuit board's main power switch is off?

Please call a licensed electrician before you cause a fire or hurt yourself.

[ThirdOfFive]

Please call a licensed electrician before you cause a fire or hurt yourself.
What he said...

[retiredguy123]

Not a DIY project. Hire an electrician.

[Taltarzac725]

Not a DIY project. Hire an electrician.

Thanks for the various replies. I will do that.

[retiredguy123]

OP, are you sure the circuit breaker is not working? Do you know that you need to press the breaker switch to the "off" position, and then to the "on" position to reset it? Just pressing it to the "on" position will not reset it. Also, it seems strange that all of the kitchen ceiling lights would not be on the same circuit. If some of them are working, have you identified another breaker that controls them? If not, then the issue is not the breaker.

[Taltarzac725]

OP, are you sure the circuit breaker is not working? Do you know that you need to press the breaker switch to the "off" position, and then to the "on" position to reset it? Just pressing it to the "on" position will not reset it. Also, it seems strange that all of the kitchen ceiling lights would not be on the same circuit. If some of them are working, have you identified another breaker that controls them? If not, then the issue is not the breaker.

It is just some of the kitchen ceiling lights. It looks to just be one breaker.

But I really would not know what I was doing after just looking at the panel.

[retiredguy123]

It is just some of the kitchen ceiling lights. It looks to just be one breaker.

But I really would not know what I was doing after just looking at the panel.
Turn on the kitchen lights, and then turn off each breaker, one at a time, to see if the lights go out. If they don't, then you probably do not have a defective breaker.

[Taltarzac725]

Turn on the kitchen lights, and then turn off each breaker, one at a time, to see if the lights go out. If they don't, then you probably do not have a defective breaker.

The lights will not come on at all for that section. But others do. I did fiddle with turning the circuits of a little bit. The ones over the sink will come on after but not the ones nearer the front window. But I do have another issue a electrician would need to address anyway.

[retiredguy123]

The lights will not come on at all for that section. But others do. I did fiddle with turning the circuits of a little bit. The ones over the sink will come on after but not the ones nearer the front window. But I do have another issue a electrician would need to address anyway.
In my house, the light over the sink is on a different wall switch. If the problem is a wall switch, that is an easy DIY project. Good luck.

[villagetinker]

OP, our house (2013 vintage Gardenia) has several SETS of ceiling lights on ONE circuit breaker, Labeled GENERAL lighting, this feed goes to 3 or 4 switches which control each set of lights. As mentioned above, this sounds like a switch, it also sounds like to are very uncomfortable working around electrical equipment. I recently used Hayes Electric and was very pleased with their work and price, if you want a licensed electrician. NOTE: a switch replacement is typically allowed to be done by the homeowner, and you can use a handyman to do the switch replacement.
Tip, on our house, when the lights are off the DIMMER has a small green light, if the green light is off, either the circuit is dead, the switch has failed, or ALL of the light bulbs on that circuit have failed.
Hope this helps.

[Taltarzac725]

OP, our house (2013 vintage Gardenia) has several SETS of ceiling lights on ONE circuit breaker, Labeled GENERAL lighting, this feed goes to 3 or 4 switches which control each set of lights. As mentioned above, this sounds like a switch, it also sounds like to are very uncomfortable working around electrical equipment. I recently used Hayes Electric and was very pleased with their work and price, if you want a licensed electrician. NOTE: a switch replacement is typically allowed to be done by the homeowner, and you can use a handyman to do the switch replacement.
Tip, on our house, when the lights are off the DIMMER has a small green light, if the green light is off, either the circuit is dead, the switch has failed, or ALL of the light bulbs on that circuit have failed.
Hope this helps.

Thanks. All the ceiling lights above the kitchen table are not going on when the switch is on. And the light switch does not light up like all the others in the house.

[retiredguy123]

Thanks. All the ceiling lights above the kitchen table are not going on when the switch is on. And the light switch does not light up like all the others in the house.
Just a thought, but my chandelier above the kitchen table has 2 light switches, one near the front door and the other near the sliding exterior side door.

If you can verify which circuit breaker in the panel controls the lights above the kitchen table, you should be able to replace the switch safely by turning off the breaker. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, then hire an electrician. But, most homeowners are able to do it.

[Toymeister]

Thanks. All the ceiling lights above the kitchen table are not going on when the switch is on. And the light switch does not light up like all the others in the house.

Let's apply a little logic here.

Your switch and the breaker are mechanical and both are prone to failure with time and usage, but the switch is used thousands of times of each time the breaker is used.

Only that set of lights are impacted and no other lights or outlets.

The conclusion is obvious, it's a bad switch. This is a simple DIY project if you have any DIY skills at all.

[MrFlorida]

Inside an electric panel is not the place to learn DYI....you could get killed in there if you slip or touch the wrong thing... call an electrician, and live to post another day !

[mellotts]

I went into our garage and looked at the circuit breaker box and it looked like I found the one that is not working and purchased a replacement at Ace yesterday.

Just curious about the circuit breaker box? I can easily make sure the light switches are off in the kitchen.

Do these circuit breakers of which they had a number of 20s in basket at Ace just plug into the board or do you have to take the whole door off and do wiring? Eaton Cutler-Hammer 20 amps Plug In Single Pole Circuit Breaker


https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lighting-and-electrical/circuit-breakers-fuses-and-panels/circuit-breakers/31481

I will probably just call an electrician but am interested in why they would sell these out in a basket in Ace if a lot of work is involved? Lots of different kinds of screws holding the door on.

And I do not feel like electrocuting myself by taking the door off as it looks like it still will have power coming in from above even if the circuit board's main power switch is off?
I am a Villager and can check it for you and replace if necessary. Im an electronics technician by trade. Built and wired several homes. 970-201-four nine nine three.

[Worldseries27]

thanks for the various replies. I will do that.
from all of us
thank you

[MandoMan]

OP, our house (2013 vintage Gardenia) has several SETS of ceiling lights on ONE circuit breaker, Labeled GENERAL lighting, this feed goes to 3 or 4 switches which control each set of lights. As mentioned above, this sounds like a switch, it also sounds like to are very uncomfortable working around electrical equipment. I recently used Hayes Electric and was very pleased with their work and price, if you want a licensed electrician. NOTE: a switch replacement is typically allowed to be done by the homeowner, and you can use a handyman to do the switch replacement.
Tip, on our house, when the lights are off the DIMMER has a small green light, if the green light is off, either the circuit is dead, the switch has failed, or ALL of the light bulbs on that circuit have failed.
Hope this helps.

Worth adding that if those lights are on a dimmer switch and you replace incandescent bulbs with LEDs, the dimmer switches may not work properly, the LEDs May flicker or stop working, etc. There are dimmer switches made specially for LEDs. You may need to have new ones installed.

[rsmurano]

Everybody on this thread is giving the OP too much info that is confusing. Each house is different. For example, all of our kitchen lights are controlled by 2 switches. If the OP took the advice on swapping 1 of these switches, not knowing they are a 3-way, you would have a problem.
IMO, if somebody doesn’t know much about electricity, I would keep the conversation simple like checking the breaker, or changing the light bulb.

[OhioBuckeye]

I switch out my own breakers but if you don’t feel comfortable doing it themselves, definitely get a electrician but be prepared to pay pretty heavy for this 10 min. job. Breakers just snap in. Once you unsnap the breaker the break is dead. Just don’t touch the brass bar that the breaker touches. Or you can just flip the big whole house switch at the top & then the whole breaker box will be dead. But in your case call a electrician!

[Glewellen]

Watch this youtube. It is a good explanation of the procedure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6OGF66IskI

[Nordhagen]

I went into our garage and looked at the circuit breaker box and it looked like I found the one that is not working and purchased a replacement at Ace yesterday.

Just curious about the circuit breaker box? I can easily make sure the light switches are off in the kitchen.

Do these circuit breakers of which they had a number of 20s in basket at Ace just plug into the board or do you have to take the whole door off and do wiring? Eaton Cutler-Hammer 20 amps Plug In Single Pole Circuit Breaker


https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lighting-and-electrical/circuit-breakers-fuses-and-panels/circuit-breakers/31481

I will probably just call an electrician but am interested in why they would sell these out in a basket in Ace if a lot of work is involved? Lots of different kinds of screws holding the door on.

And I do not feel like electrocuting myself by taking the door off as it looks like it still will have power coming in from above even if the circuit board's main power switch is off?

Check if any GFI outlets in the kitchen have tripped.

[JOEMAN]

I mean you no disrespect, but if you are asking these questions then you really shouldn't be opening your breaker box.. it's an easy fix if you know what your doing, so it shouldn't cost an arm or a leg.

[rsmurano]

Why are posters telling the OP how to change out the breaker when nobody knows if that’s the problem. IMO, a bad breaker would be the last piece I would look at replacing.
Do we know if the breaker has been reset? How about the secondary test button/switch on the breaker? Most circuit breakers made in the past decade or more have a test button/white switch on them that can reset. I’ve had to replace some of these for garages because they will flip too easy when hooking up air compressors or worm drive saws with high amperage ratings. So not only you can switch the main breaker on/off, you can press this test button/white switch on the breaker on/off too.

I have a test pen that beeps when close (not touching any wires) to a hot wire so what I can do is take off the switch plate on the switch for the lights that don’t work, and with the switch off (not a 3-way circuit), you should have the pen light go on pointing to either the top or bottom screw on the side of the switch. If you don’t have power to either screw, then you don’t have power coming in to the switch. If you do have power coming into the switch, then after you flip the switch on, you should have power going to both screws on the switch. If you don’t, you have a bad switch. This is not for a 3-way light circuit.
Also, I’m not telling you to do any electrical work or that you should touch any electrical wires, you should hire this out. Do not use the old fashion pins to test your circuits, only use the test pens with the plastic tips so you can’t create an arc.
To be safe, hire any job out that you don’t understand, especially electricity and natural gas

[Nucky]

Hey Tal, switch a lightbulb that you are certain that is functional with one of them there pesky ones that won’t turn on. You may find it’s a lightbulb dilemma.

I had Pikes Electric change each light in the kitchen to LEDS lately and the difference is dramatic but it ain’t cheap. Good luck!

[ron32162]

The whole panel needs to be off to change this. One mistake will kill you or knock you to the other side of the garage.

[Taltarzac725]

The whole panel needs to be off to change this. One mistake will kill you or knock you to the other side of the garage.

That's the information I need. Thanks. I just thought you plug the new one in and that is it.

[villagetinker]

That's the information I need. Thanks. I just thought you plug the new one in and that is it.

I really wish you had called me, I am a retired professional electrical engineer, and would be glad you help you trouble shoot your problem.

[Taltarzac725]

I really wish you had called me, I am a retired professional electrical engineer, and would be glad you help you trouble shoot your problem.

We have a lot of other things going on with the electricity.

[DDToto41]

I went into our garage and looked at the circuit breaker box and it looked like I found the one that is not working and purchased a replacement at Ace yesterday.

Just curious about the circuit breaker box? I can easily make sure the light switches are off in the kitchen.

Do these circuit breakers of which they had a number of 20s in basket at Ace just plug into the board or do you have to take the whole door off and do wiring? Eaton Cutler-Hammer 20 amps Plug In Single Pole Circuit BreakerI will probably just call an electrician but am interested in why they would sell these out in a basket in Ace if a lot of work is involved? Lots of different kinds of screws holding the door on.

And I do not feel like electrocuting myself by taking the door off as it looks like it still will have power coming in from above even if the circuit board's main power switch is off?

Please make sure you get a reliable electrician, I worked 31 years in a steel mill as an electrician, supervisor and a Technical Advisor while going to collage to get a degree in Electrical Engineering. Theen worked as a project Electrical Engineer for a fiber manufacturer and a paper mill. When I moved here I had a neighbor ask me to check out his outlet for his Microwave. I did and found his receptacle had the common wire shorted out to the box. The wood around the box was charred. He replaced the receptacle and everything was fine. I also found a receptacle in my house with a loose wire and repaired it. Later while working at Publix an electrical contractor came in and I waited on him and asked him if they were hiring, and he told me the hire me to install the receptacles, switches and lights for a price. I did not want to get into a set up like that. Knowing that you may want the electrician to check out the wiring in your lights.
Plus make sure the breaker you bought is the same make and size as the circuit breaker you are replacing.

[Debbraham]

I know this sounds crazy but try different bulbs…we had a electrician for a couple new light bulbs that would flicker or not work in the kitchen…electrician put other new bulbs in and worked perfectly. He said very often new bulbs in a package may be defective…they work great now!

[Maker]

Some things mentioned so far have important omissions you need to know about.

The main circuit breaker does shut off power to the entire house. It does that by shutting off power to the rails that al the other breakers plug on to. There is still power in the breaker panel that can kill you. The power feed coming into the panel, connected to the main breaker, is still hot.

A tripped breaker may look like it is in the on position. But it will be slightly off the fully on position. To reset it, push it completely off, wait 15 seconds, and push back to the full on position. It will clunk. If it trips right away, you are done, call an electrician to fix the short.

The easiest way to troubleshoot this is with a volt meter. That will tell you what voltage is present.

There are non-contact devices that will beep and (most) light up a led to tell if power is present. It does that by detecting the field given off by live wires.
If it indicates, then you have power somewhere near. Depending on how things are wired, it might be a nearby circuit, or the circuit you are expecting.
If it does not indicate, it says power MIGHT NOT be present. Maybe you are too far away? Maybe voltage is low due to a bad connection? You must be sure it is really working properly. Test it on a known live circuit (another outlet, lamp wire, etc) and see that it works. Then retest the thing you first looked at. And retest on a live circuit again. Only then is it possible that power is off there. Now use a voltmeter to confirm.
The normal use for it is to warn for power unexpectedly present. Also a quick way to find the right breaker; first see power is present, then trip breaker, and see power is now off. Good electricians will always recheck with a voltmeter for safety.

Not all dimmer switches have lights on them. Remember, light on means power is present. Light off does not mean anything. What if the light or switch is defective?

Replacing a breaker is easy. Take off panel cover. Trip off the bad breaker. Measure with a voltmeter. Unsnap from back plane then disconnect wire on it. Put wire on new breaker (of correct make and same amp rating) and torque screw to specifications. Be sure breaker is off and snap back into panel. Turn it on.
Don't touch other wires or any part of the back plane where the breakers mount onto.
Some people trip off the main breaker to make it less likely to contact live power.
If it's a GFCI or Arcfault breaker, there will be another wire from the breaker that needs to be removed and the new one reconnected.

AC voltage in your house causes an interesting action on your muscles. It makes them contract. If you grab a live wire with bad insulation, your hand squeezes harder on the wire. Likely you cannot let go. You might be able to launch yourself away with your legs if you are lucky. A friend with you might grab you to pull you away, and they could get electrocuted too. That can be wiring in a breaker panel, lamp, outlet, or a light switch.

Fixing this issue is not a complicated process. Taking off the breaker panel cover to fool around inside is not a job for a novice. Not much you can do inside without first using test equipment to see what is really happening.

If you are having troubles in more than one circuit, you likely need an electrician. If it's several circuits, you absolutely need an electrician. What is common to multiple circuit problems? The main power feed, main breaker, breaker panel itself. None that a homeowner should fool with.

[birdawg]

Led lights don’t always work with some makes of dimmer switches.

[Taltarzac725]

Some things mentioned so far have important omissions you need to know about.

The main circuit breaker does shut off power to the entire house. It does that by shutting off power to the rails that al the other breakers plug on to. There is still power in the breaker panel that can kill you. The power feed coming into the panel, connected to the main breaker, is still hot.

A tripped breaker may look like it is in the on position. But it will be slightly off the fully on position. To reset it, push it completely off, wait 15 seconds, and push back to the full on position. It will clunk. If it trips right away, you are done, call an electrician to fix the short.

The easiest way to troubleshoot this is with a volt meter. That will tell you what voltage is present.

There are non-contact devices that will beep and (most) light up a led to tell if power is present. It does that by detecting the field given off by live wires.
If it indicates, then you have power somewhere near. Depending on how things are wired, it might be a nearby circuit, or the circuit you are expecting.
If it does not indicate, it says power MIGHT NOT be present. Maybe you are too far away? Maybe voltage is low due to a bad connection? You must be sure it is really working properly. Test it on a known live circuit (another outlet, lamp wire, etc) and see that it works. Then retest the thing you first looked at. And retest on a live circuit again. Only then is it possible that power is off there. Now use a voltmeter to confirm.
The normal use for it is to warn for power unexpectedly present. Also a quick way to find the right breaker; first see power is present, then trip breaker, and see power is now off. Good electricians will always recheck with a voltmeter for safety.

Not all dimmer switches have lights on them. Remember, light on means power is present. Light off does not mean anything. What if the light or switch is defective?

Replacing a breaker is easy. Take off panel cover. Trip off the bad breaker. Measure with a voltmeter. Unsnap from back plane then disconnect wire on it. Put wire on new breaker (of correct make and same amp rating) and torque screw to specifications. Be sure breaker is off and snap back into panel. Turn it on.
Don't touch other wires or any part of the back plane where the breakers mount onto.
Some people trip off the main breaker to make it less likely to contact live power.
If it's a GFCI or Arcfault breaker, there will be another wire from the breaker that needs to be removed and the new one reconnected.

AC voltage in your house causes an interesting action on your muscles. It makes them contract. If you grab a live wire with bad insulation, your hand squeezes harder on the wire. Likely you cannot let go. You might be able to launch yourself away with your legs if you are lucky. A friend with you might grab you to pull you away, and they could get electrocuted too. That can be wiring in a breaker panel, lamp, outlet, or a light switch.

Fixing this issue is not a complicated process. Taking off the breaker panel cover to fool around inside is not a job for a novice. Not much you can do inside without first using test equipment to see what is really happening.

If you are having troubles in more than one circuit, you likely need an electrician. If it's several circuits, you absolutely need an electrician. What is common to multiple circuit problems? The main power feed, main breaker, breaker panel itself. None that a homeowner should fool with.

Thanks for all that information. Should help people also dealing with something like this!

[retiredguy123]

Thanks for all that information. Should help people also dealing with something like this!
OP, I have done a lot of DIY projects over the years. I even built a room addition once. I have run wiring, replaced wall switches, wall outlets, and installed light fixtures and ceiling fans. But, I would never do anything inside the main electrical panel, except turn the circuit breakers on and off. I would hire a licensed electrician for any work in the panel. To me, it is too dangerous and too much of a risk that you will violate the electrical code. I wouldn't even hire a handyman. Just my opinion.

[Garywt]

I never saw where you said you changed the light bulbs, even LED lights burn out. Have you changed the bulbs before you checked breakers etc. I have changed or added many breakers over the years. The hardest part it the electric box cover is heavy. Unless it is a ground fault breaker you just pull the old breaker out and plug the new one in. To be safe shut off the main but you can do it with the power on as well.

[Pairadocs]

Please call a licensed electrician before you cause a fire or hurt yourself.

Not trying to be sarcastic, truly not mean this in that spirit, but I think you might have missed the object of the post completely. If you give it another read, the person is not asking IF he/she should or should not call an electrician at all, in fact, STATES CLEARLY they probably will, but was asking for an explanation of the whole breaker situation.

[Pairadocs]

Turn on the kitchen lights, and then turn off each breaker, one at a time, to see if the lights go out. If they don't, then you probably do not have a defective breaker.

Great advice to do the trouble shooting !

[Taltarzac725]

I know this sounds crazy but try different bulbs…we had a electrician for a couple new light bulbs that would flicker or not work in the kitchen…electrician put other new bulbs in and worked perfectly. He said very often new bulbs in a package may be defective…they work great now!

Not trying to be sarcastic, truly not mean this in that spirit, but I think you might have missed the object of the post completely. If you give it another read, the person is not asking IF he/she should or should not call an electrician at all, in fact, STATES CLEARLY they probably will, but was asking for an explanation of the whole breaker situation.

You have that right. I bought a 20 amp circuit breaker at Ace Hardware and was wondering if I can just shut down the power and take out the old circuit breaker and put in a new one without worrying about wires? It does not look like it. I have flipped that circuit on and off a number of times but it has not resulted in any electricity getting to the switch. They remain dark.

[Pairadocs]

In my house, the light over the sink is on a different wall switch. If the problem is a wall switch, that is an easy DIY project. Good luck.

Our model has the same setup, ONE light directly over the sink can be turned on separately with a different switch, and we have had quite few switch failures over the years (maybe they "don't make um like that used to" ? LOL !). At least that is a simple, easy task. Hope that's your issue !

[retiredguy123]

You have that right. I bought a 20 amp circuit breaker at Ace Hardware and was wondering if I can just shut down the power and take out the old circuit breaker and put in a new one without worrying about wires? It does not look like it. I have flipped that circuit on and off a number of times but it has not resulted in any electricity getting to the switch. They remain dark.
As I understand it, you need to remove the electrical panel cover, turn off the main panel power switch, remove the defective breaker, disconnect the wire that is connected to the breaker, connect that wire to the new breaker, and then plug in the new breaker. So, yes, you do need to worry about wires.

But, the first thing I would do is to remove the wall switch that is not getting power, and replace it with a new switch. Very easy and inexpensive. It may solve your problem.

[Taltarzac725]

As I understand it, you need to remove the electrical panel cover, turn off the main panel power switch, remove the defective breaker, disconnect the wire that is connected to the breaker, connect that wire to the new breaker, and then plug in the new breaker. So, yes, you do need to worry about wires.

But, the first thing I would do is to remove the wall switch that is not getting power, and replace it with a new switch. Very easy and inexpensive. It may solve your problem.

Thanks. That is a good suggestion.

[metoo21]

You have that right. I bought a 20 amp circuit breaker at Ace Hardware and was wondering if I can just shut down the power and take out the old circuit breaker and put in a new one without worrying about wires? It does not look like it. I have flipped that circuit on and off a number of times but it has not resulted in any electricity getting to the switch. They remain dark.

It's not just a matter of turning the breaker off and then back on. Once you flip it to off, you have to continue to push toward the center of the panel as far as it will go. You'll fill it sort of springy. Then flip it back on.