Outside Lights

[ivormills]

I have 5 outside garden lights mains wired to an RCD. I have had the lights for a number of years and occasionaly the RCD trips and usually this is caused by damp or condensation which is easily fixed.
The RCD tripped a couple of days ago and I set to fixing the problem today. I tested the lights first and the RCD tripped. I checked all the lights and found the problem (damp) dried everything and tried again, the RCD did not trip, succcess!.......No! The lights did not come on. I checked the plug fuse, fine. Using a screwdriver type tester I tested there was power at connectors at the lamps, yes. I finally tested the power at the bulb connector (bayonet) yes. Now I am really baffled, power but no lights and yes, I did check the bulb!
Any help would be much appreciated as I am stumped on this one.....and in the dark.

 

[Gaz the Sparky]

sounds to me like a lost neutral somewhere if you have got a live at the lights
check all the connections to make sure there are no loose connections

G.T.S

 

[breezer]

I suggest you put your "tester" screwdriver in one of these

and buy your self a multimeter, as you have found out they are not a lot of use

 

[ivormills]

Thank you for your suggestion Gaz, I will check all the connections, as soon as the rain stops! Breezer, I am sorry my screwdriver does not meet with your approval but I am obviously not as tecnically minded as you, that is why I am asking my question on this forum and I appreciate constructive input as from Gaz. One other thing, I was getting a power indication (on my crappy screwdriver) from the positive and negative, is this normal?

 

[industryspark]

ivormills,

not having a go mate but what breezer said about the screwdriver is correct. as a testing tool they are useless. bin it and buy a digital multimeter for about a tenner.

youl have much more joy when trying to diagnose faults with this.

 

[ivormills]

Ok I will get one now........but I might be back to ask you how to use it