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

 

[telectrix]

that's more than 1 post for every possible bad connection.

 

[jrt]

Success !!

I couldnt take flooring up as I did too god a job laying it, so I drilled a hole, cough, two holes lol, found ceiling connection & as per pic, all looked good, I disconnected live & rewired. Tested & all back working, must of just been missing the connection. Down side is as I was rewiring light, I crossed over & touched live from upstairs, arms still vibrating !!!

 

[jrt]

Duplicate

 

[freddo]

Why is the CPC cut out of that grey cable?
The wiring in your house is terrible.

 

[jrt]

Dark grey cable is first connection to spotlights

 

[telectrix]

so good he did it twice. . well done for perseverance and finding the fault rather than bodging a repair.

 

[Pete999]

Success !!

I couldnt take flooring up as I did too god a job laying it, so I drilled a hole, cough, two holes lol, found ceiling connection & as per pic, all looked good, I disconnected live & rewired. Tested & all back working, must of just been missing the connection. Down side is as I was rewiring light, I crossed over & touched live from upstairs, arms still vibrating !!!

View attachment 37573

Thats a right old cock up joint box

 

[telectrix]

Thats a right old cock up joint box

yep. looks like fred flintstone wired the lights.

 

[jrt]

 

[Lee42]

I would have some fun doing eicr on that installation.
Would need a couple of pages to write down faults me thinks.
What do u mean by u crossed over and touched upstairs, giving u an electric shock?

 

[Toneyz]

Read all posts !!!! so what was the cause of the lights not working live cable come out of junction box ?. well done for getting to the bottom of it how come you got a shock !.
I suggest now that you have made all these holes that you get an electrician in to rewire some of the lighting circuit as possible to get rid of all those junction boxes that are inaccessible sadly this is the problem with laminated flooring installed upstairs, use a M.F. Wango box above a light fitting as Tel posted at least you could still get to the connection by removal of fitting /make the connections at one of the downlights in a Hager 501 junction box but take this opportunity to improve the accessibility.

 

[Amateur]

Well done for sorting it. You could have done that about 6 pages ago though!

 

[Amateur]

Dark grey cable is first connection to spotlights

Same amateur mistake as i made few years back there. I also thought double insulated downlights with no terminal for earth as not needed on the actual light fitting so why not just cut it off...... Didnt consider about cable protection so the earth (CPC) should be externally jointed at each downlighter providing earth continuity protection along the length of the cables.

The pro's can elaborate on this though and correct my terminology, as i always state, im just a DIY'er!

That is why i like these forums for picking up more knowledge from the professionals.

 

[Wilko]

I'm going to do the Dad bit : While it's a success that you've sorted it, you put yourself in a place where you could have been killed. And there may be some damage done from what you've said. So please get help when you need it ... including now ?

 

[jrt]

I was told by another electrician to cut earth off as the actual spotlight do not have an earth terminal

Shock was my stupidity, switch in hall can control upstairs light, I didnt pull fuse on that & when rewiring back up, I touched live on upstairs switch !