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Did you check that the wire is dead? I had a recepticle just die on me. Even after I replaced it, I have no idea what the problem was.
The wire may run over and come down from overhead, or even up from below.
One way to find out what else is on the circuit is to just short the wires and trip the fuse or circuit breaker. There are better ways, I'm sure but it does work. Then you can locate what the most likely feeder is.
BTW, you might want to check for a GFCI breaker being tripped. I had a light that went out every time it rained. Turned out it was being feed from a CFCI that was at the furthest corner away from the light.
There was a long discussion about this recently including tracing equipment.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=80397.1
Also you did not give any idea of the age of house, construction (number of stories, basement/slab, etc). Or if it has had major remodeling and/or additions.
A few clues. It might be on the same circuit as a receptacle on the otherside of the wall.
House built before power drills the wiring usually went up and down. Only had to go through the plates.
Newer houses receptacle wiring often went around the round through the studs.
Thanks for the quick response. This house was built in 1968 so the wires go horizontally through the studs. That link you sent is a good starting point.
It looks like if I back feed the dead circuit I can us one of those less expensive tracers that require 120V. This one is about $70.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/productIndex.shtml
Of course if it's the neutral that is dead, backfeeding will give you a really neat light show.
When backfeeding dead circuits it is often reccommended to wear brown pants.