Lights not working

[Dec13]

I was called to a job in a new apartment block this evening and the lights in the apartment were out. All MCBs for the lights on the consumer unit were up, and reading 230 volt but when I put my meters on all of the lights, I had no volt reading. Any ideas on where the fault is????

Dec

 

[ian]

were the lights on the same circuit?

 

[johnboy6083]

have you pressed the switch?
seriously though mate, your being very very vague. yioyu will have to trace the circuit, to find out the last place that you have power, and then go from there.

 

[telectrix]

check at the first light. volts across L and E. if you get 230, then you have a lost neutral, easily missed till you get hold of a live which you think is dead as you've measured L/N.

 

[Sintra]

Did you check to see if the power was going to the switches?

 

[Mark_Burgess]

Is the block new as in not finished and other trades are still working in there?

 

[telectrix]

Is the block new as in not finished and other trades are still working in there?

plumber attack???

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Did you take out the line conductor from the MCB, i have had loads of cases where the conductor has broken in the MCB at the end of the insulation out of sight, you will still get voltage at the the MCB but not a lot will go to the circuit! but visually all looks well.

Cheers......Howard

 

[Dec13]

Hey Howard,

Yeah I connected the line conductor into another MCB and still had no power in any of the lights or switches.

 

[Dec13]

Ha ha no, not this time!

 

[Dec13]

Yeah checked power to switches, none!

 

[Dec13]

Hey Ian,

2 circuits, one upstairs and one downstairs, neither working.....

 

[Dec13]

ha ha...Yes, was the first thing I tried!!!!

Have power leaving lighting circuit at consumer unit, but no power to light fittings or switches.......

 

[telectrix]

use your volt stick. if it lights up, then investigate the neutrals.

 

[ian]

sounds a bit like broken neutrals, but its unlikley to be accross 2 circuits.

dont supose there is an emergency light test switch that has been left in the off position?