electrical fault in extension ceiling

[legendhowes]

Ive recently installed a warm room on an extension, but it appears that a screw has gone through a cable and is fusing the lights to 2 rooms under the flat roof. Is there any way of repairing this without stripping the ceiling or roof. Or pinpointing it to an are so I only need to strip 1 section . There are spot lights and 1 main light in each room[/u]

 

[bernardgreen]

You may be lucky if the screw heads are still accessible.

Using a multimeter on AC volts range with one test lead to a good Earth connection use the other lead to test each screw head for any voltage to ensure the resistance test is save to do.

If a screw head shows anything close to 230 volts then you have the culprit ( or at least one of them )

If no screw head shows any voltage then with the power turned OFF using the ohms (resistance ) range look for any screw that has a low ohm connection to Earth.

 

[legendhowes]

I cant get to the screw as the grp is on

 

[TheVictorian]

can you drop the spotlights and test between each one?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Is there any way of repairing this without stripping the ceiling or roof. Or pinpointing it to an are so I only need to strip 1 section . There are spot lights and 1 main light in each room

You need to isolate circuit and prove circuit is dead, then you can if you have the knowledge and equipment to do some testing? You can test between lighting points and switch points to locate which section has been damaged. Testing would require continuity and insulation resistance. If you do not know how to perform these tests safely and/or do not have the equipment to perform the tests, then I would suggest calling an electrician that can.