PDA

View Full Version : Getting power to lights and switches, but they won't come on


etanner37
Oct 18, 2007, 03:52 PM
Lost power the other day and flipped the breakers to get them back on. Worked but I lost power in the laundry room shortly after. I replaced the breaker and bought a volt reader and I'm getting power to every breaker. I checked every outlet and even the ones that won't work are getting power to them. The lights aren't working either. The switches and the fixtures are getting power but they won't turn on. I even wasted money buying new switches and it did no good. You already answered me about this question but I am hoping that this new info might help you understand the situation better and help me fix it. By the way, I did try replacing the light bulbs, so its not that. Please help me

tkrussell
Oct 18, 2007, 03:57 PM
When you say you have power, what voltage do you get across which set of wires?

Stratmando
Oct 18, 2007, 04:02 PM
You need a good Hot AND Neutral. An extension cord plugged into a known good outlet is good reference for testing. To see if Hot Neutral, or Ground is missing.

Bluemm
Oct 18, 2007, 06:03 PM
When you are measuring voltage, where are you measuring it? Are you checking from hot (black) to neutral (white) or from hot to ground (bare)? It's possible to think you have power by measuring from hot to ground, but you could have a disconnected neutral which will not allow your circuit to work.
Please give more info.

Washington1
Oct 18, 2007, 07:22 PM
I'm going to assume you lost a Neutral. [Assuming I have power means: I have a pin light tester and it's flashing (or beeping or both) when I place it near the hot leg, or in the hot slot of a receptacle? ]

Yet, if you have a meter, then I'm with TK, what's the reading?

ballengerb1
Oct 18, 2007, 07:29 PM
You guys are on the right track but tell me what he is thinking by his first sentence,"lost power the other day and flipped the breakers to get them back on.." Why would someone who lost power start flipping his breakers. Maybe he tell tell us that answer when he comes back to answer Kevin's question. I'm betting he is measuring from the hot on the breaker to the panel box.

Washington1
Oct 18, 2007, 08:24 PM
True! I guess we can only guess as far as what we were told