Electrical Problem. We heard a hum in the wall and the lights dimmed and went out.?
I changed a ceiling fan. When I turned on the wall switch to the fan, there was a hum (in the wall around the switch), and the other lights in the room dimmed and went off. Now, there are 3 rooms that have no power, including that fan. I checked the breakers (a combination of old fuses, and breakers) but nothing seemed thrown.
The glass fuses don't appear burnt, and I don't know how to check the big red paper fuses with the brass ends.
What do I need to do?
I think I found part of the problem. In the box, the old wiring has a naked spot (above the fan wires up in the box) that may have touched the box.
I've wired many fans before, and never had this problem.
Also, there was no spark, and no ozone. The larger (red) fuses don't have any charring.
It sounds like your a bit out of your depth here my friend.
You wired something up wrong to begin with.
However, if you want to check those fuses to find which one may have blown, you can use a simple voltmeter to check with power on by placing one probe lead on the neutral buss and the other lead to the fuses. One end (usually the top end is the supply the other end goes to the equipment.
If you read voltage on one end and not the other you have found the faulty fuse.
The other, and safer way, would be to switch off all power and remove the fuse and do a continuity check on the fuse.
However, if you didn't know how to check for a blown fuse you should leave it up to someone who has more experience
This was for informational purposes only, what you do with that information is up to you.
Electricity can be quite dangerous when not handled properly and sometimes fatal.
Good Luck!
Edit:
That makes sense from your additional details.
You will not see any charring on the fuses.
I suspect that what you call the 'naked wire' means that you found a wire where the insulation had been damaged and the conductor was exposed.
If this is the case, and since you are in the States, it should have been a black (live) wire, which was making a good electrical contact to the box, and if the box was properly grounded/earthed would have caused the problem you describe.
Put shrink-sleeve or electrical tape over the exposed wire, and replace the blown fuse.
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