So a circuit in my home is dead. It covers a couple lights and a couple outlets. I plugged a microwave into this circuit and it was more than she could handle. Before this, the circuit worked fine for years, but the lights would noticeably dim when the load from the toaster was applied.
The breaker is not tripped. I replaced the breaker. This particular breaker was different from the others, not labeled on the panel, and the romex enters the panel from a different direction than the other 20amp circuits; I suspect this circuit was added after initial construction.
There is no GFCI on this circuit. The fixtures and outlets are all standard with no obvious fuses. There are no scorch marks, and there was no smell when the circuit cut out.
I worked as an electrician's assistant when I was a teenager. I have basic skills and basic tools. I don't have an outlet tester or a mutimeter.
You need to identify the physical path the circuit takes from the panel, through the outlets to where you had your issue. Odds are the circuit is looped through the receptacles (ie one set of hot/neutral through the top set of screws, one set through the bottom screws), and walk it down the line until you find the loose wire. Get yourself one of the $6 outlet testers and pop it into the toaster receptacle; if it lights up, probably an open neutral, if it doesn't, open hot. Just have to find it. Might have to go exploring in your attic or crawl space to get eyes on the physical cable.
A good modern outlet tester will identify which wire is open. I just had to fix an open neutral last weekend, and my outlet tester saved me some hassle by telling me which wire had the issue
Sure, but if the hot is open the plug tester won't work at all