Help- Lights Out...

[simbad]

This is a little wierd.
In our kitchen we have 2 sets of halogen strip lights on 2 seperate switches (off a double switch unit) My wife just turned one of them off and then turned them back on together at the double switch. she thinks they lit very briefly but then nothing and they will not come back on.
the wierd part....
the trip switch is fine.
The ultility room is also out
the dining room is also out
the lounge/office and hall (all downstairs) are all ok
i noticed that the single bulb in the utlity room is lit but so fainty you can just see the element lit.
if you turn the kitchen halgogens on in the kitchen the utility goes out all together
- so i guess there is only a trickle of juice getting to the lights whcih is not even enough to power one 40W bulb.

Any ideas, what to do, or what this could be.
By the way- i'm a novice DIY'er so bear that in mind

Thanks

 

[RF Lighting]

Have you tried turning the circuit breaker off, and then back on?

Sometimes when a breaker trips the little lever stays in the on position.

As you say a lamp is glowing it sounds as though a connection may have failed somewhere.

Do any of the other lights come on if you switch off the utility light?

 

[simbad]

have tried the trip switch on and off a few times. no difference. and the other lights downstairs are fine when trip is on, and off when it is off.
no other light comes on at all and the utility light is only the smallest filament glow. i thin i'm only seeing it as it is a 40W clear bulb.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

so no i go into the dining room and try to swtich again with everything that was playing up in the off position. guess what- the 2 lights in living room (room next door) come on but only half brightness. i swtich them off and go to their normal switch in the living room- switch on and only one of the twin ceiling lights actualy comes on.

so my living room lights are now only firing one light instead of two and my dining room switches are firing the 2 living room lights but only dimly.

ahhhhh

 

[RF Lighting]

Do you know roughly how old the wiring in your house is?

What make and colour is your fuse box?

I am thinking a joint box may have failed.

 

[simbad]

The house is only about 20 years old. the fuse box is quikline (cream in colour)
we did have an extension about 2 years ago but the lighting there is actually fine.

 

[simbad]

Can't believe it was so easy- after all my panicking that a junction box had gone in the cavity somewhere, turns out.....;

it was just a loose wire on the ceiling rose in the living room. Was sending all the other lights haywire.

Thanks for your advice though

 

[JohnD]

What make and colour is your fuse box?

Very good question couldn't have put it better myself