Ceiling light problem

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Ceiling light problem
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sgt.colon

Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 12:10 pm Post subject: Ceiling light problem

I'm hoping one of you electricity gurus will be able to offer some help please?

We have a problem where three lights are not working but two others on the same breaker circuit are. Now I've changed the switches, tested that there is a live going to the switches and also tested that there is a live making it to the light fitting itself, which all pass. Yet when you turn on the switch nothing happens, oh and I've also tried a new bulb and also a new light fitting. I'm flumoxed. Any sage advice is much appreciated.

Thank you.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 1:07 pm Post subject:
Mains? 12v?

sgt.colon

Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 1:07 pm Post subject:
Ah sorry, mains.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 1:09 pm Post subject:
Not a clue then. With low voltage I'd have suggested dead transformers.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46233
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 1:19 pm Post subject:
continuity of circuit? is the return faulty? tis a bit difficult to diagnose remotely but at the mo my money is on a wiring problem but a faulty fitting or loose connection to a fitting could be the break point.

sgt.colon

Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 1:45 pm Post subject:

Well nothing has change with the lights themselves but we had a problem that when we turned the outside like on the kitchen and dining room lights would dim and or flicker. Yesterday morning we had a leak through the hallway ceiling from a central heating pipe I went up to look under the floorboards and an old electricity pipe, the steel ones (I think they were steel) that they used to run wire's through was resting on the heating pipe and seemd to be live as I got a shock off it. I lifted the old pipe up and there was water squirting out of the heating pipe. I turned the electricity off so I could sort the heating pipe and it's after this that they won't come on. The old electricity pipe is still live but I don't know how this is possible. Might it be that causing my problem?

How do I check that the return is okay?

Thanks.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 1:54 pm Post subject:
In my house, with an electrician. Specially near water.

sgt.colon

Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 2:10 pm Post subject:
Yeah you have a point Nick. I was just trying to solve it myself as I like to tinker.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 2:15 pm Post subject:
Oh, I'm sure it's not beyond people. Just me. I know my limits.

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 2:40 pm Post subject:

sgt.colon wrote:

Sounds like there is a loose/damaged wire that is causing the shock/flickering lights, etc.
An electrician would have to find the wire in question so you could save time/money if you could isolate it yourself.
I'd get into the ceiling space above the lights and trace the wires back to the light switch. Probably means lifting carpets/floorboards but better you do it than pay an electrician.
If it is live up to the light fitting but the light is still not functioning then it does suggest the return (black or blue) wire has come loose or is damaged somewhere. Often the return wire will go back to a junction box to gather returns from other circuits. Can you locate it?

sgt.colon

Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 3:34 pm Post subject:
Thanks OL. I'll pull up boards and trace the wire back. I'm wondering if a junction box has been used somewhere and a wire in there has got damaged and it's that that is causing an old pipe to be live.

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 3:56 pm Post subject:

sgt.colon wrote:

Thanks OL. I'll pull up boards and trace the wire back. I'm wondering if a junction box has been used somewhere and a wire in there has got damaged and it's that that is causing an old pipe to be live.

Sometimes wires can just work loose especially if they were only marginally secure in the first place.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46233
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 4:22 pm Post subject:
what they said or it might be a tube/box full of water. if you have isolated the circuit properly checking for water or a physical break is a lot safer than if you have not . even wet ceilings can give you a nasty jolt.

sgt.colon

Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 4:24 pm Post subject:
Another odd thing I've just thought is that the light nearest the leak is fine, it's the three lights furthest away that aren't working.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46233
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 16 4:52 pm Post subject:
water can run down ducting etc disturbing one thing can cause another thing to pop loose ( a common effect in less than perfect electrics )

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