Problem with my lighting circuit!

[stef99]

Hi, ok, i'll try to keep this short.

My radial lighting circuit (6A) is acting up, its the first time i've come to test it

the circuit runs to my 2 way switching, then to the living room and then to the kitchen and the utility room.

I have two downlighters powered off this circuit (for ease of installaion) - which come after the main light in the living room.

When i flick the switches top all the lights up to the kitchen they work fine, however if i turn on the kitchen light, nothing happens and the last down lighter goes off!

I have tried to see if i have gone through a cable somewhere, and have even pulled a new cable from the last downlighter to the kitchen.

there are two lights in the kitchen and it dosnt matter which light i switch, they both have the same effect on the living room downlighter.

The other strange thing about it, is if i use low energy bulbs, the circuit goes dim, and if i use candesent bulbs, it just goes off. leading me to thik there is not enough current in the circuit!

I have checked the board, and even tried a nw 6a breaker, but the problem is still there, im usisng a crabtree dual RCD board.

Is it possible that this board is "unbalanced"? I would not have thought so myself, as this problem occurs weather im running a high current demand or not. This only hapens on this circuit, what am i doing wrong/

Also, I dont not have a megger or multifuction tester to test every cable, just a simple multitester for the time being.

im sorry my post may not be reader friendly, but i really need an answer to this asap, thank you for looking

 

[EngStudent]

Check the connections from the last fully-functioning light onwards. Even if they look tight they may not be.

 

[stef99]

yeah, i have - twice, I also diconnected all the earths just to see if I had gone through a cable when putting the boards back, and its still the same?

 

[1john]

check the wiring at the last downlighter, the one that goes off, you either have a loose or incorrect connection somewhere

 

[EngStudent]

yeah, i have - twice, I also diconnected all the earths just to see if I had gone through a cable when putting the boards back, and its still the same?

Can you run me through your thought process on this?

 

[stef99]

ok, i tried that, and disconected to bulb altogether in the last working light, and the circuit goes dead after this light, which means that the other lights litterally rely on this light being powered to use the remaining lights, im gonna have a think about this and draw a picture right now, do you think its possible that i have taken a switch cable to the following light in the kitchen?

 

[EngStudent]

ok, i tried that, and disconected to bulb altogether in the last working light, and the circuit goes dead after this light, which means that the other lights litterally rely on this light being powered to use the remaining lights, im gonna have a think about this and draw a picture right now, do you think its possible that i have taken a switch cable to the following light in the kitchen?

By the sounds of it you're feeding the 'L' to the kitchen light from the N of your last downlight.

 

[stef99]

stef99 wrote:
yeah, i have - twice, I also diconnected all the earths just to see if I had gone through a cable when putting the boards back, and its still the same?


Can you run me through your thought process on this? icon_confused.gif
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i was to make sure that i didnt have a live earth, which i dont think i would have since it would trip the rcd

 

[1john]

Definatly, get a multimeter, identify the feed and the switch cable and connect beck together correctly.

 

[stef99]

Engstudent, you maybe right, i'll be back in less than 3 mins!!!!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

When i flick the switches top all the lights up to the kitchen they work fine, however if i turn on the kitchen light, nothing happens and the last down lighter goes off!

Has it always done this?

Did it start doing it for no apparent reason?

Did it start doing it immediately after you installed new lights, as in "I have two downlighters powered off this circuit (for ease of installaion)"?

...leading me to thik there is not enough current in the circuit!

Sorry, but that is nonsense.

Is it possible that this board is "unbalanced"?

So is that.

I also diconnected all the earths just to see if I had gone through a cable when putting the boards back

WTF

What did you think that would tell you?

And why were the boards up in the first place? Were you fiddling with your lighting circuit?

At the same time you're checking for loose connections, check for incorrect ones, like lights in series, switched and permanent lives mixed up, that sort of thing.

 

[stef99]

Yes!!!, Halillolya!!!
Your were right, see this is why your supposed to sleeve all cables, in the first fix!!!!! thank you!!!, you've made my day!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Paying attention is also a good idea.

And learning how lighting circuits work before starting to fiddle with them...

 

[stef99]

sorry for the confusion, shed, I was installing it the other day, I do actually hold a 2391, i just couldnt find my mistake, the "pendant" to the downlighter bulb, has two blue wires, hence my confusion

 

[bernardgreen]

sorry for the confusion, shed, I was installing it the other day, I do actually hold a 2391, i just couldnt find my mistake, the "pendant" to the downlighter bulb, has two blue wires, hence my confusion

Using the colours of the pendant cable to identify conductors in the twin and earth cables seems an odd way to work. I never will understand modern education.