Light stopped working - but current at live terminal

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Somerset
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Landing light stopped working a couple of weeks ago & I can't find anything wrong. When it stopped working it went off with a pop so I replaced the bulb. Nothing.

Have checked the live wire with a mains tester screwdriver & there is current there. There is also current at the live terminal within the light fitting.

All the other connections in there look sound too.

Then the same thing happened to another light. Exactly the same thing. Everything else on the circuit works ok.

Anyone got any ideas?
 
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a mains tester screwdriver & there is current there.
Those dangerous things cannot indicate current. they can only indicate that there is a voltage difference between the metal it is touching and the body of the person holding it. In some cases they can touch a live wire and NOT glow. In other cases they can glow when touching a grounded wire.
 
And your problem may be in the neutral (return) leg of the circuit. A neon screwdriver is useless at fault finding and cannot detect faults in the neutral.

You need a multimeter, a two probe voltage indicator, or an electrician.
 
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Have checked the live wire with a mains tester screwdriver
Bin it, it is not going to help you and could kill you
& there is current there. There is also current at the live terminal within the light fitting.
A neon screwdriver, will not indicate that!

All the other connections in there look sound too.
You need to test them then.
Anyone got any ideas?
You could start with understanding how circuits work, buy an approved voltage tester and continuity meter, then learn how to fault find.
What type of lamps are they?
 
Did you check the replacement lamp ?

Yep - done all the obvious things. As I said, 2 lights are now affected not just 1.

And your problem may be in the neutral (return) leg of the circuit. A neon screwdriver is useless at fault finding and cannot detect faults in the neutral.

You need a multimeter, a two probe voltage indicator, or an electrician.

Electrician booked for next Friday. Yes, I could do with learning to use that kit.

What type of lamps are they?

Just bog standard bayonet fitting lamps form ceiling rose
 
Multi-meters are reasonably cheap and can test for both voltage and continuity.
The problem with neon screwdrivers other than they are unreliable, therefore a very dangerous instrument to trust. They only test the one (line) pole, for a circuit to function you require both line and neutral poles, which can only be confirmed by using a two pole/probed meter.

If both lights stop working at the same time, it is very possible that the looped neutral has become loose or broken, or it could be down to coincidental lampholder failure.
 
Was anything altered prior to lights failing, changed or new fitted?.
 

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