So after an overload from a power tool, I completely lost all my outlets but the breaker didn't trip.
I pulled that outlet and even removed the box to inspect as much wire as I could but there was no damage to the receptacle or wires.
I tested the breaker and it was 120. The neutral at the panel is also tight and undamaged. There is also a ground wire in the bus bar from that circuit but the outlets themselves have no ground (house was built in 50's)
The outlet I was using was the 3rd of 5 in the circuit. I pulled them all out and inspected but I can't see or smell any issues with the receptacles or wiring.
I figured out the rest of the circuits, so I know the outlets don't have any lights connected to them (although one in the living room is controlled by a switch on the wall)
Is it normal for the 3rd outlet to take out the 1st and 2nd like that?.. And also without tripping the breaker (I also replaced the cb just to eliminate that as a possibility)
*Not sure if I'm supposed to leave a comment or edit my answer to respond.. but it's a Square D panel and I can't trace from the first good or bad receptacle since they're all dead. As in, the very first receptacle after the panel, and then each one after that until the last.
Going in the other direction from the panel are the kitchen receptacles but they're on a separate circuit and working fine.
Best Answer
Don't bother inspecting wires that are not in boxes. There's no need, unless you've been doing construction work or have had an earthquake. Wires between boxes are rarely damaged. All the mischief tends to happen where wires terminate, e.g. at receptacles, switches, neutral bars, breakers etc.
Any given receptacle obtains its power from somewhere. Typically that is another receptacle. It could also be a "tee" splice in the wiring; Code requires that any splice be inside a junction box whose cover is accessible without needing tools. For instance above a drop ceiling is OK; covered up by a screwed-down plywood panel is not OK.
So typically your receptacle gets its power from another receptacle, which gets its power from another one, etc. etc.
Your failure is a very common one
The circuit doesn't normally see heavy loading. One of the terminations (wire meets receptacle) isn't very good. The heavy load causes the poor connection to pop like a fuse. Now it's open (non-connecting).
As discussed above, connections are generally "chained" with splits, like a "tree". There is a chain of outlets/splices from the panel, to an outlet, to the next outlet, etc. The failure is always at the first bad outlet, or the last good outlet in the chain.
So if the chain is Panel-A-B-C-D-E-F-G, and you plugged in at F and now B through G are out, then checking D E F G is unconstructive. The problem must be at A or B.