No lights help!!!!!!

[vikingbobw]

Hi all. I'm new to electrics so am really tearing my hair out trying to find a fault and I'm hoping that with all the knowledge and experience on here a solution can be found. Here goes:

I have two lights in seperate rooms that will not work. I have so far changed the bulbs, changed the fuses and checked with a mains voltage tester to see that power is going to the switches and the bulb socket, it is. Now if power is going to the switch and the light fitting it can only be the bulb, right? Well as you see I have already checked and changed them. Everything else in the house is fine including the sockets in those rooms.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Bob

 

[vikingbobw]

Oh and where the blacks are plugged in are marked L and N

 

[oldtimer]

OK first of all the question asked is are you using a mains tester ie multimeter with 2 leads and if so is it set for AC ~ or Dc - ?

BIG warning here if you are not sure then stop right there and get someone to look at it.

I have seen a problem like this befor in a loop system where the loop live or neutral in another room is either disconnected or loose so if there is two rooms wired to this the light will not work

 

[vikingbobw]

Hi Oldtimer, No I have not used the multi meter. All I have at the moment is a tester which shows there is power moving through a wire and detects any breaks.

Bob

 

[nickblake]

Right i got it the reds are the ins and outs youll have feed in 1 red feed out 2 red and switch 3rd red (this goes down to the switch and back to the light ) so you can switch it on the reds do not connect to any thing just all joined to gether the two blacks go to the light fitting 1 is neutral the other is live the return from the switch this should be identified in RED old colours or brown New colours , yours is the old colours , the light you have if im not mistaken is a globe type ,just make sure the terminal block is blow the ceiling so no exposed terminals in the loft

 

[nickblake]

just looked at the pic again see the yellow cable its got the red markers on it thats the switch wire the black thats connected to the fitting is the neutral , the black not connected is actually the earth thats you can cut off but make sure all the earths ( uninsulated wire should have green and yellow sleeve on) the one with the black tape round , slip some earth sleeve over it and terminate it in a chock block and just leave it its a class 2 fitting doesnt need an earth but what ever you do DO NOT cut the earth wires copper uninsulated ones as these provide the earth protection to the rest of the lighting circuit

 

[vikingbobw]

Nick, Got it. You're right about the reds, all connected to each other. You're right that the blacks go to a terminal each, one to L the other to N. Opposing them I have the two light brown/gold wires going straight to the light. What I don't get is the black to the right of the pic that is attached to nothing on one end. I also don't get that if they are connected the way you have described, as they are, why has it not corrected the problem and more to the point why I've lost more lights simply disconnecting then reconnecting the way it was before? I'm struggling to maintain my sanity mate.

Bob

 

[vikingbobw]

Nick ok thanks. Just give me a min to digest.

 

[nickblake]

i lost my sanity years ago , if you remove the red tape make sure they are not just twisted to gether if they are put a connector on them as it could all be down to a loose connection , oh the blacks the earth one to the right of the picture should be green and yellow

 

[vikingbobw]

Nick. Please bear with me. I get the reds. I get the black N. I get Earth wire that I terminate in a block and I never planned on cutting any of it anyway. I assume the other black is good where it is in the L terminal. If all that is right and it's already wired that way what is stopping this from working or is the exposed Earth as it is causing a prob?

Bob

 

[nickblake]

have you got lights on that circuit working , do you have a tester ??? doubt its the exposed earth , cut that black wire off the earth and put a terminal block on it
What type of fuse is on the circuit MCB rewireable (Looks like a domino) and any RCD protection covering the circuit

 

[vikingbobw]

It seems all the lights on the same circuit are out. All I have at the minute is one of those screwdriver (neon) things and a pen tester which tests for voltage and breaks in wires. I do not have a multi meter.

 

[nickblake]

Ok just had a thought , your problem may well be a neutral thats down the wire one on the right looks like it has been terminated , it could well have been connected to the neutral terminal of the light and using the earth path as a return , it shouldnt be but , go to the last light that works and check the neutral connections make sure one isnt broken , if all ok ,if you have any twin and earth 1.5 try putting a piece between the neutral thats working and the light fitting in the picture basically a jumper just 1 core as a tempuary link to be removed after

 

[nickblake]

ok go check you r fuse always start from there , what you could do nip to B and Q get yourself a multi meter about £5.00 at least you can get better tests not perfect , if you go past a canal throw the screw driver tester in it , sorry my friend but , no good for problems like this i only use them for poking holes

 

[vikingbobw]

Ok, will termiate the earth first. Finding the last light that works will be easy because there is only one that works on the top floor (not sure if it's on the same loop but will try).

Right, remember I am an electrical moron. I take it you are asking me to 'jump' start' the light fitting with the last working light by connecting it with earth wire? Is the black wire attached to the earth wire in the pic ok for that? If that's the case and the light fitting has no connection for it where do I connect the earth wire? Do I connect the live neutral etc?

I will have to go for a bit because I have to turn the power off etc.

Nick, I dont want to take all your evening so I will try for a bit longer then let you go. I really appreciate your help in this. I'm just trying to sort what might be a simple one wire problem before my wife hits me over the head to stop me and get someone out who may charge the earth (no pun intended)

I will let you know later how things went but I may not get it done tonight.

Thanks again.

Bob

 

[vikingbobw]

Got the last one. I think I may have to get a multi. I have checked the fuses, the bulbs etc. The annoying thing is it was just the bedroom lights that wouldn't work first until I took a wire out then put it back now the lot has gone.