Help.. no lights downstairs in my home

[jrt]

Hope someone can please help with strange (to me) issue

I turned lights in last night in my home & they came on & then went off. But all apart from 1 light downstairs in my house doesn't work. At first I thought fuse, but it's ok. The 1 light that stays on is on same fuse as the ones that won't. None are linked with same switch so none of the lounge, kitchen, dining room, hall or lower toilet are working. Any ideas on where to start to remedy ?

Thanks

 

[Pete999]

Dark hear

Dark ware

 

[Pete999]

Mobile phones ?, Your behind the times matey. Half the buggers walk round nowadays glued to their tablet, nearly knocked one of the idiots over earlier.
Bloody idiot was walking down the pavement, tablet in hand & suddenly decides to cross the road without bothering to look. Would have been bad enough if it was a teenager, but this idiot was in his 40's at least.

Important piece of technology if and when used correctly, apart from what you are saying which is true, there is the social interaction debate, you take your family for say a birthday celebration to a fast food establishment, before anyone has chosen. ordered ofr found somewhere to sit and eat, out come the I.hones tablets, watches, yes my lad has an I.watch, they are all tapping away texting each other,and the person they are texting is sat next to them, even as you mentioned older people, the art of conversation gone and forgotten, ask any teenager today to write a letter to their Grandparents thanking them for their Birthday gift, "Oh I'll text them later" what if the poor old buggers can't work a blasted I phone, or even know what a text is.

 

[Pete999]

Mornin Tel you working today?

 

[Specialist]

Important piece of technology if and when used correctly, apart from what you are saying which is true, there is the social interaction debate, you take your family for say a birthday celebration to a fast food establishment, before anyone has chosen. ordered ofr found somewhere to sit and eat, out come the I.hones tablets, watches, yes my lad has an I.watch, they are all tapping away texting each other,and the person they are texting is sat next to them, even as you mentioned older people, the art of conversation gone and forgotten, ask any teenager today to write a letter to their Grandparents thanking them for their Birthday gift, "Oh I'll text them later" what if the poor old buggers can't work a blasted I phone, or even know what a text is.

How true those words are Pete, you can't go to the Pub or Cinema etc without some moron on the phone at the side of you.
And before anyone asks: Yes, I use both a Mobile and tablet but I think people today take things to extremes.

 

[Specialist]

By the way morning Pete, morning Tel if your there.

 

[telectrix]

morning florence, said dougal
morning florence, dougal and zebedee, said dylan
morning dylan, said zebedee,florence,and dougal.
boing. ,

 

[Toneyz]

morning florence, said dougal
morning florence, dougal and zebedee, said dylan
morning dylan, said zebedee,florence,and dougal.
boing. ,

You sure that's only whisky in that tea ?.

 

[jrt]

Had a sparky round today, he couldn't find the fault. Says he will need to come back & cut holes in my ceiling & do an elimination process to find where the live feed is failing.
Could the live feed secured in the ceiling just suddenly fail ?
Lounge has spotlights, fitted 3 years ago & working fine until the issue, Kitchen spotlights fitted 6 months ago, 2nd hall light, toilet & office all flat lights on ceiling, not been touched for years other than lightbulb changes ?

 

[Toneyz]

Had a sparky round today, he couldn't find the fault. Says he will need to come back & cut holes in my ceiling & do an elimination process to find where the live feed is failing.
Could the live feed secured in the ceiling just suddenly fail ?
Lounge has spotlights, fitted 3 years ago & working fine until the issue, Kitchen spotlights fitted 6 months ago, 2nd hall light, toilet & office all flat lights on ceiling, not been touched for years other than lightbulb changes ?

What's a flat light ? I am guessing that when downlights was fitted a junction box was installed where the existing room light was taken out.

 

[jrt]

Flat light as in not a pendant, close to ceiling no rose or hanging cables

 

[jrt]

Junction box in garage which is converted to an office now (man cave) JB was tested, all working fine, still only 1 hall light working, this light "could" be first on circuit, but sparky had no clue which light was next as all other lights are dead

 

[Toneyz]

Flat light as in not a pendant, close to ceiling no rose or hanging cables

Batton holder then

 

[Toneyz]

Flat light as in not a pendant, close to ceiling no rose or hanging cables

Batton holder thenView attachment 37505

 

[jrt]

no, like this

 

[telectrix]

cutting holesin ceiling seems a bit drastic. can't boards be lifted upstairs?

 

[telectrix]

no, like this

dome light or U>F>O.

 

[jrt]

well my fault is out of this world, so I will go with UFO lol

 

[jrt]

If issue is in lounge, I can cut out flooring upstairs, but its been working for 3 years, so I have to presume the latest install, being the Kitchen is the fault, but above that, is my bathroom & I have marble floor tiles in there

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

Yes. I love these kind of sparks! Keep us updated!!

 

[Ian1981]

Don't let him cut holes.
If he has to make holes then tell him to use a 4 inch hole cutter ( enough to get your arm in)and to save the bits he drills out so they can be used to patch the holes up

 

[jrt]

Think I'm gonna do it myself, I have a hole cutter

 

[Specialist]

You sure that's only whisky in that tea ?.

It's OK it's the magic roundabout Tel's on, not the magic mushrooms

 

[Amateur]

Im only an amateur diy'er with an interest in electrics but I think I must be missing something here so im happy to be corrected by the forum professional's.

If this was my house then the first thing i would do would be to trace the live loop/radial to see where or if it fails.

Im assuming you know how a basic lighting circuit is wired with the permanent lives (in series/loop/radial circuit with no return leg to the consumer like a socket ring) and switched lives?

As already mentioned regarding the 1 working light, have you pulled all the other fuses to be 100% sure it is fed from the downstairs circuit?


I take it you have so next I would drop the light fitting that is working and check that I had a live loop entering and leaving that fitting using my voltage detector pen. If it doesnt then its a bad connection at that fitting. If it does then I would then check the other fittings to see if there is a live there. If I couldnt find a live at any other fitting then i would know my problem is with the cable leaving the working light and I would trace that cable as it is that or a joint in it that is breaking the loop.

As said im only a diy'er but i successfully mananged to solve issues in my own property using the above logical approach.

I know i havent mentioned neutrals but I would check the live first.

 

[telectrix]

Im only an amateur diy'er with an interest in electrics but I think I must be missing something here so im happy to be corrected by the forum professional's.

If this was my house then the first thing i would do would be to trace the live loop/radial to see where or if it fails.

Im assuming you know how a basic lighting circuit is wired with the permanent lives (in series/loop/radial circuit with no return leg to the consumer like a socket ring) and switched lives?

As already mentioned regarding the 1 working light, have you pulled all the other fuses to be 100% sure it is fed from the downstairs circuit?


I take it you have so next I would drop the light fitting that is working and check that I had a live loop entering and leaving that fitting using my voltage detector pen. If it doesnt then its a bad connection at that fitting. If it does then I would then check the other fittings to see if there is a live there. If I couldnt find a live at any other fitting then i would know my problem is with the cable leaving the working light and I would trace that cable as it is that or a joint in it that is breaking the loop.

As said im only a diy'er but i successfully mananged to solve issues in my own property using the above logical approach.

I know i havent mentioned neutrals but I would check the live first.

logical approach, but i'd not rely on a voltstick. using an approved 2 lead voltage tester and measuring both L-N and L-E at each light would verify whether it was the L or the N that was at fault.

 

[Amateur]

logical approach, but i'd not rely on a voltstick. using an approved 2 lead voltage tester and measuring both L-N and L-E at each light would verify whether it was the L or the N that was at fault.

Fair comment but ive not got one lol. I would like to learn how to use and understand test equipment though. At least you didnt slate my diy'er with no proper equipment approach.