Dead downstairs electric lighting circuit

Hi,
I hope someone can help me with the following problem.

Our downstairs light circuit has stopped working. It also lights the downstairs loo and two landings - it's a three storey house. It stopped working for a few hours last week then came back on again. Then stopped for a few hours yesterday, came back on for 3 hours, and has since gone completely dead.

The circuit breaker has not tripped. I've checked all the ceiling roses and all the wires are connected. There's also another two circuit wires connected to the same circuit breaker - outside light and alarm - and these are working OK. Yesterday, when I flicked the circuit breaker on and off several times during the evening all the lights flickered for a split second. Also, one 2 gang 2 way light switch had a wire slip out which I've put back (I think in the right place) - don't think a light switch can knock out a whole circuit though?

Not sure what else to do. Just hope somebody can tell me if I've missed something before a weekend of darkness and calling the electrician out on Monday.

Many thanks,
Leigh

leigh davis said:

Yesterday, when I flicked the circuit breaker on and off several times during the evening all the lights flickered for a split second.

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So there could be a loose connection there.

Be wary of what might still be live inside a CU even with the main switch off.

Also, one 2 gang 2 way light switch had a wire slip out which I've put back (I think in the right place) - don't think a light switch can knock out a whole circuit though?

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Depends how the circuit is wired. If it loops through the switches rather than at the ceiling fittings then a dodgy or broken connection at the first switch could indeed cause the whole circuit to fail.

Not sure what else to do.

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Further checks for loose connections?

Just hope somebody can tell me if I've missed something before a weekend of darkness

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Get a few table lamps.

Interesting, thanks. And some things to go on. The double gang 2 way light is directly under the CU and is like spaghetti junction. So should take another look at that.

A multimeter or a two-probe mains voltage tester is going to be invaluable in your search.
Do you have such a thing?

Yes, thanks, I have just bought a multimeter. I'm a bit of a novice with it though. It's just gives a dead reading for voltage all along the lighting circuit but a normal reading when put across live and earth of outside light which is on same circuit breaker - so ruled out problem with actual breaker. Also the resistance reading gives a value when used across the live wire but nothing on the neutrals when putting meter on the wires in a ceiling rose. But I'm not sure if I know exactly what I'm doing??

leigh davis said:

Also the resistance reading gives a value when used across the live wire but nothing on the neutrals when putting meter on the wires in a ceiling rose. But I'm not sure if I know exactly what I'm doing??

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I'm not sure quite how you are testing this but if the circuit is live when you are carrying out this test you could well end up seriously injured/killed. I would strongly advise contacting a competent electrician.

freddo said:

leigh davis said:

Also the resistance reading gives a value when used across the live wire but nothing on the neutrals when putting meter on the wires in a ceiling rose. But I'm not sure if I know exactly what I'm doing??

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I'm not sure quite how you are testing this but if the circuit is live when you are carrying out this test you could well end up seriously injured/killed. I would strongly advise contacting a competent electrician.

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Thanks for the advice. When testing resistance the supply is off. When testing for voltage got my fingers well behind the plastic shields of the multimeter with black probe on earth and red probe on live or neutral. Yes. bit scary for a novice like me and thinks it's time for an electrician to solve the mystery.

Please let us know what he finds - always good to add to the store of knowledge here.