Household leccy problem

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Flossie

Flossie

Well-Known Member
Posts
11,285
Location
Shropshire
Mates house..he's lost the landing light and the bathroom light , they are next to each other maybe 8 foot. Landing light is two way switching from downstairs. I know enough to get myself into trouble!
Anywhoo, the other 3 rooms upstairs still work just the landing and bathroom.
I've put my dmm on both fittings at the Rose and get 240vac on live to earth on everything that's supposed to be live however I only get circa 48v on live to neutral.
Unsure of myself, I went to one of the bedrooms , dropped the rose down, and get 240v live to earth AND live to neutral, which was what I expected but wanted to confirm.
Not sure where to go from here BUT I did find only two neutral wires at the landing rose, one incoming and the other was the tail for the bulb holder cord, I expected 3 neutrals there and there was a spare terminal unused, there is no evidence that there was ever a neutral wire for that 3rd terminal. Poking my head up the loft hatch there are no extra stray wires, all looks untouched. I'm going back tomorrow with a ladder so I can actually get in the loft. House built 1976 . The only add on to this circuit is a bathroom extractor which is fed from the bathroom light, I've disconnected that.
Any ideas on the live to neutral thing?
Tia
 
Sounds strange. I take it there was the required 3 live terminals in use?
So both roses only had 2 neutrals?

If it did work, I would look in the switches. Although it still doesn’t sound right, I would be looking for a loose wire.
Obviously getting in the loft and being able to see were wires go to/from may help.

I do all my own electrics but not going to say I am right as I am not certified, well except I own 3+spare Land Rovers.
Buts it’s always an earth problem :vb-weyes:

J
 
more info please but assume the landing light last on circuit,the bathroom light should have 3 neutral wire (fan, landing and nearest bedroom) and the bedrooms should each have two neutrals so would look at bedroom nearest to bathroom for loose neutral wire note do not count neutral wires to lamp holders
 
mystery said:
more info please but assume the landing light last on circuit,the bathroom light should have 3 neutral wire (fan, landing and nearest bedroom) and the bedrooms should each have two neutrals so would look at bedroom nearest to bathroom for loose neutral wire note do not count neutral wires to lamp holders
Click to expand...
I think you're right. I thought all lives, neutrals and earth's returned to the consumer unit as a ring circuit on both sockets and lights. It follows that the landing light is the last in the non returning circuit hence only one neutral. I'll pop up tomorrow and check out the room next to the bathroom which is a ceiling fan/ light combo thing. The bulb works so I'm thinking (aloud) that the neutral from there to the bathroom has fell out/broke so no bathroom light and no landing light as they are both upstream. I hope it's that because it's bloody hot in that loft and fibreglass and sweat don't mix with me. Itching just thinking about it..
 
marjon said:
Sounds strange. I take it there was the required 3 live terminals in use?
So both roses only had 2 neutrals?

If it did work, I would look in the switches. Although it still doesn’t sound right, I would be looking for a loose wire.
Obviously getting in the loft and being able to see were wires go to/from may help.

I do all my own electrics but not going to say I am right as I am not certified, well except I own 3+spare Land Rovers.
Buts it’s always an earth problem :vb-weyes:

J
Click to expand...
Live terminals were all correct right up to the bulb contacts, only 1 neutral on the landing , 3 terminals there, 1 from the loft space and , of course, the neutral tail from the lamp cord, @mystery has sussed it methinks. Find out tomorrow!
ive also stuck a new roof on his house which involved standing in the loft space occasionally just yesterday and maybe i caught a cable with my feet but i dont recall that at all. The lights problem only occurred after that though so probably my fault.
20250514_101859.jpg
20250514_112942.jpg
 
Flossie said:
Mates house..he's lost the landing light and the bathroom light , they are next to each other maybe 8 foot. Landing light is two way switching from downstairs. I know enough to get myself into trouble!
Anywhoo, the other 3 rooms upstairs still work just the landing and bathroom.
I've put my dmm on both fittings at the Rose and get 240vac on live to earth on everything that's supposed to be live however I only get circa 48v on live to neutral.
Unsure of myself, I went to one of the bedrooms , dropped the rose down, and get 240v live to earth AND live to neutral, which was what I expected but wanted to confirm.
Not sure where to go from here BUT I did find only two neutral wires at the landing rose, one incoming and the other was the tail for the bulb holder cord, I expected 3 neutrals there and there was a spare terminal unused, there is no evidence that there was ever a neutral wire for that 3rd terminal. Poking my head up the loft hatch there are no extra stray wires, all looks untouched. I'm going back tomorrow with a ladder so I can actually get in the loft. House built 1976 . The only add on to this circuit is a bathroom extractor which is fed from the bathroom light, I've disconnected that.
Any ideas on the live to neutral thing?
Tia
Click to expand...
I bet thay are not 2 neutrals one will be a live feed as you said it was 2 way thay just used the incorrect coloured cable for the 2 way connects?
Just got to the end glad you got it sorted 👍
 
Stone56 said:
I bet thay are not 2 neutrals one will be a live feed as you said it was 2 way thay just used the incorrect coloured cable for the 2 way connects?
Just got to the end glad you got it sorted 👍
Click to expand...
That light, above, isn't two way switching, that was the landing light. The two wires in that light, above, were both neutrals , loop in and loop out, live was red ,switched live was black (red sleeving) both from the one way switch. All the extra coloured wires are fan control, speed and direction I should imagine.
He wanted me to replace the fan as its noisy and indeed it was, but it was just the globe jingling and a quick turn of the thumb screws holding the globe up and it was whisper quiet so he's chuffed too.
 
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