confused with light wiring in kitchen

[abuameer]

Hi everyone,

This one has confused me. I was called to a friend's house because his kitchen light does not come on and neither does his outside garden light. Recent works has been done in the kitchen (plastered, new units etc etc). But none of the lighting wires were touched. In fact, after the kitchen works were completed, the lights were working fine for over a year. Now the garden light and the single kitchen light does not work at all. Both went dead at the same time. I have done the basic checks like change the tube for a working one, changed the starter for a working one, changed the light switches for a working one. No change.
Please check diagram. I thought it could be loose wires but all wires are intact but its the two way switch wiring that confuses me. The problem is i cant take apart the wiring above the kitchen light as its plastered and the only cables i can is a live, earth and neutral going into the terminals of the fixture (red, g/y and black). However, i dont see any black wires at either of the switchs. There are two switches, one gang 2 way which controls the kitchen and a double gang 2 way which controls the kitchen and the garden light. what can be the cause?? Why both lights go at the same time. I havent checked the wiring behind the garden light.

 

[telectrix]

sounds like JB above ceiling. time to get the hammer out.

 

[MDJ]

Definately a joint, obvious really.

 

[telectrix]

needs sticking.

 

[HandySparks]

That metal switch plate could do with being earthed as well.

 

[abuameer]

That metal switch plate could do with being earthed as well.

Thanks for your replies guys. I have pulled more cable out of ceiling and I can see three red wires joined together with one to the lighr and three neutrals with one to the light and three earths. They are all intact and solid connections. Does this mean further down the wire there must be another junction box. I havent changed any configuration to the wiring and it was working fine a week ago. any further ideas. Thanks.

 

[telectrix]

asi said. if you can't see it, you can't fix it. time to make some holes. was looking at a job yesterday. L-E fault on lights tripping RCD. all been wired with junction boxes in inaccessible voids. no way of splitting down to isolate the fault. nowhere to get measurements. priced for total rewire of lights. gave him option of all surface wiring or ceilings down.

 

[abuameer]

asi said. if you can't see it, you can't fix it. time to make some holes. was looking at a job yesterday. L-E fault on lights tripping RCD. all been wired with junction boxes in inaccessible voids. no way of splitting down to isolate the fault. nowhere to get measurements. priced for total rewire of lights. gave him option of all surface wiring or ceilings down.

I see. Thanks for that. So will have to be trunking then and re wired.

 

[amlu]

get your multimeter out and do some voltage/continuity testing on those wires. may be a loose connection in the 2 way switching...

 

[Guest111]

You don't say if you have live at switch or fitting,losing the neutral will stop the lights working in the same way as losing the live will.

 

[UNG]

Have any other light fittings in the house been changed or worked on that could be causing the problem

 

[jaypp]

on your first 'pic', l1 n l2 are not connected with same conductor- strappers crossed?

 

[telectrix]

crossed strappers should not cause a problem, as long as to same conductor is used in the commons.

 

[jaypp]

crossed strappers should not cause a problem

agree not the whole problem described, but would affect 2way switching of kitchen light (if conventional) and would be a start. i.d. of conductors whilst your at it!

 

[MDJ]

on your first 'pic', l1 n l2 are not connected with same conductor- strappers crossed?

Won't make any difference, providing they are the strappers and not crossed with the common no issue