Loosing a neutral
- Thread starter Hammyboy
- Start date
- Joined
- 11 Jan 2004
- Messages
- 46,207
- Reaction score
- 3,652
- Country
Go round all fittings and check connector blocks, roses, junction boxes, behind switch plates etc for loose connections. Find out where the board is, and how many lights are still working, if any. This can sometimes give you a good idea of where to look.
For example, I went to a lighting circuit recently. Some lights were off, others were on. So I went to the board and worked my round the entire ground floor, taking an educated guess at the route the installing spark might have taken. Lo and behold, the next fitting after the last light that worked yielded an open neutral.
For example, I went to a lighting circuit recently. Some lights were off, others were on. So I went to the board and worked my round the entire ground floor, taking an educated guess at the route the installing spark might have taken. Lo and behold, the next fitting after the last light that worked yielded an open neutral.
start at the consumer unit check those connections first then, look for down lighters they are a good bet and check ceiling roses, just as Secure has said, take your terminal driver and check the tightness as you go.
If you have some lights on on the circuit it will narrow things down for you.
Don't forget to quiz the customer a bit first, ask if they've changed any fittings recently.
Pray that you don't have to hunt the junction box
Let us know what you find
If you have some lights on on the circuit it will narrow things down for you.
Don't forget to quiz the customer a bit first, ask if they've changed any fittings recently.
Pray that you don't have to hunt the junction box
Let us know what you find
Assuming you know how to use a voltage tester.
Switch all the light switches on first, all the Neutrals at the roses AFTER the broken Neutral will then read 240 v between Neutral and earth, with a voltage tester.
All the ones BEFORE will read 240 v between Line to Neutral and the lights will work.
Switch all the light switches on first, all the Neutrals at the roses AFTER the broken Neutral will then read 240 v between Neutral and earth, with a voltage tester.
All the ones BEFORE will read 240 v between Line to Neutral and the lights will work.
It turned out it wasnt a lost neutral thats what i was told before i went.
I got there and the breaker was tripping as soon as i tried to switch it on. So i checked in a lighjt fitting and the connector block was brittle, just bracking in my hands as soon as touched it
This was the case at several other lights so i replaced the connector and it was working fine again.
Thanks for the replys anyway, it means now im more clued up about loosing a neutral if i ever get sent somewhere where that happens
I got there and the breaker was tripping as soon as i tried to switch it on. So i checked in a lighjt fitting and the connector block was brittle, just bracking in my hands as soon as touched it
This was the case at several other lights so i replaced the connector and it was working fine again.
Thanks for the replys anyway, it means now im more clued up about loosing a neutral if i ever get sent somewhere where that happens
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
