Lights off at part of home but breaker not tripped.

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Hello everyone, and Merry Xmas,

Tonight when I turned on the switch for the lights in the kitchen they did not come on and the lights in the living room also went out.
I checked the fuse board and all the MCBc and RCDs are on. Just wondering what might be wrong.
I checked the live wires coming to the switch and they all have power. Also the MCB which serves the living room and kitchen lights also serves the light near the entrance door and that can be turned on without any problem so there shouldn't be any fault in the MCB.
I have also reset all the MCBs but this didn't solve the problem.
Please can anyone help me to know what the problem is.

Many thanks.
 
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Just wondering what might be wrong.
Sounds as if a wire has come loose somewhere.

Have you been doing any work which might have disturbed or damaged the wiring?


I checked the live wires coming to the switch and they all have power.
Checked them how, and with what?


Please can anyone help me to know what the problem is.
crystal_ball.jpg


You're going to have to start checking connections in lights and ceiling roses, and at switches if the circuit loops through those rather than through the light fittings.

//www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:Lighting-Circuit-layouts
 
As above, it is very likely to be a loose connection (this could either be a live or neutral, or possibly both). So some investigation would be required.
Lighting circuits are generally formed using a loop of both the permanent live and the neutral. If one of these (or possibly both), from that point onwards you will lose functionality of lighting. That does not necessarily mean that voltage will not be detected if testing using a neon or no contact detector, or even testing between live and earth using a two pole tester, if the neutral is out.
So ideally a dead tests on continuity of all conductors would be the best tests to make.
The problem will very likely exist at an accessory such as light fitting, light switch or even a junction box. Also depending on the circuit configuration check for loose connections at the consumer unit. (It not unknown of, that circuits on one MCB have multiply conductors terminated).
Also it could be possible that the lights that are not working are served by a separate MCB to the rest of the lighting that is working. So check power is being offered at the MCB.

Other things to check are obviously the lamps (AKA bulbs), lamp-holders and transformers.
Then there is always mechanical and rodent damage to consider.
 
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The problem was with a loose connection in the light fitting in the living room. Many thanks for everyone's help.
 

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