Lights failing for no logical reason

Neil Moy · 3 Nov 2013

Hi, would be grateful if anyone could give me some advice as I am scratching my head..

I have a house on 3 floors, on Friday the upstairs lights in the house all went off bar the front bedroom, no fuse has blown and one of the bedroom lights was going on and off periodically.. Although this has now stopped.. I have a hunch that the front bedroom may feed off the downstairs ring although I am not sure of this.. (Also the front bedroom (light working) was flashing on and off a few weeks ago, just for half a second.) but hasn't since! Nothing blew so I am a little lost for what to do, I have checked the wiring on a few of the lights and all seems fine! Downstairs is fine.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Much appreciated!

Neil

Lectrician · 3 Nov 2013

Loose connection somewhere. Depends how its wired, could be joint boxes under the floor if you're unlucky.

Neil Moy · 3 Nov 2013

Thanks very much for the response, seems strange to go without any reason though? Can you advise what my best course of action would be?

riveralt · 3 Nov 2013

Lighting circuits work on a radial format - a break in the circuit at one point invariably leads to no lights working on the circuit after the break.
You say that the front bedroom is on the only working on the upper floor then that is the place I would start from.

With the power off you need to check that all the conductors in the front bedroom ceiling rose are properly connected in their terminals.
If they are then you need to work out which of the upper floor lights is next on the circuit - possibly by accessing the loft and physically checking the route.
Look here on wiki to see how lighting circuits are generally wired.
//www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:lighting:lighting_circuit_layouts

Neil Moy · 3 Nov 2013

The light actually stopped working after my wife pushed the switch in the top bedroom (2nd floor).. All the wiring is under the boards so i want to avoid having to take them up..

Is their a tool that will tell me where the fault lies, ie between 2 switches?

riveralt · 3 Nov 2013

Neil Moy said:
The light actually stopped working after my wife pushed the switch in the top bedroom (2nd floor).. All the wiring is under the boards so i want to avoid having to take them up..
Is their a tool that will tell me where the fault lies, ie between 2 switches?

As Lectrician mentioned earlier it will depend how the lighting circuit has been wired. The link I showed you has some of the different types.
The standard (ceiling rose/junction box loop method) is for the live, switch live and earth only to be at the switch - so no neutral is there.
The loop at switch method brings both live (switch live), neutral and earth into and out of the switch.
What you need to do is examine your switch to see if it the loop at switch model or the standard model.
The standard (ceiling rose etc loop) would not cause this problem - only in the loop switch method would you have this problem - again probably caused by a loose connection.

Neil Moy · 3 Nov 2013

Hi there I have taken photos of both the switch and the rose, does this tell you what system mine is?

Genuinely really appreciate your help!

Regards
Neil

Neil Moy · 3 Nov 2013

Neil Moy said:
Hi there I have taken photos of both the switch and the rose, does this tell you what system mine is?

Genuinely really appreciate your help!

Regards
Neil

Neil Moy · 3 Nov 2013

Riveralt I really appreciate your help but don't quite understand your terminology.. So excuse my ignorance!

When you suggest I check the switch should I take off the light switch to see how many wires I have or should I check the wires going into the rose? Not 100% sure what I am looking for!

I have uploaded a picture of the rose and switch..

Really appreciate it!

Neil Moy · 3 Nov 2013

Riveralt and Lectrician, thank you very much, loose wire on the ring main on front bedroom rose!!

Once again, thank you very much!

Regards
Neil

riveralt · 3 Nov 2013

Neil Moy said:
Riveralt and Lectrician, thank you very much, loose wire on the ring main on front bedroom rose!!
Once again, thank you very much!

Glad to hear

ban-all-sheds · 4 Nov 2013

Neil Moy said:
Riveralt and Lectrician, thank you very much, loose wire on the ring main on front bedroom rose!!

riveralt said:
Lighting circuits work on a radial format

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Lights failing for no logical reason

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