Fence lights

[Kwasaki]

We have 6 fence lights at the front of the house.

When we switch the light switch indoors it has started tripping one of the trip fuses in the junction box and also trips the 'T'cut switch.

 

Any suggestions on how to start going about finding the fault, thanks. 

[carlyai]

I'd have a look at the lights to see if it looks like water or something doggy is happening, then take out the globes one at a time.. If you still haven't found the problem, start disconnecting the power feed to the lights. Maybe start in the middle and isolate half the lights first.

But I've had a couple of beers so others may have a better answer. ????

[Antonymous]

Perhaps one of your neighbours is annoyed by all the light and has put a pin through the wire ????

[worgeordie]

This time of the year it will most likely be water related ,

take a bulb out ,switch on , does not trip ,put bulb back

go to the next one, until you find the dogey fitting, if it's

none of the fittings , then it's a much bigger job if its

from the house to the wall good luck.

regards worgeordie

[Crossy]

Yeah ^^^, I'd start by looking for the usual suspects, wildlife or water, in the fittings or any junction boxes.

 

Just hope there's not a taped joint underground somewhere.

[carlyai]

8 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Yeah ^^^, I'd start by looking for the usual suspects, wildlife or water, in the fittings or any junction boxes.

 

Just hope there's not a taped joint underground somewhere.

Yeah, forgot about the red ants. Look for these critter trails...cause all sorts of strange problems.

[Kwasaki]

1 hour ago, Antonymous said:

Perhaps one of your neighbours is annoyed by all the light and has put a pin through the wire ????

Nah they wouldn't do that there family they need the gravy train. ????

[Kwasaki]

57 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Yeah ^^^, I'd start by looking for the usual suspects, wildlife or water, in the fittings or any junction boxes.

 

Just hope there's not a taped joint underground somewhere.

If I put a voltmeter on ohms on the wire at where the indoor switch is would that help. 

[Crossy]

3 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

If I put a voltmeter on ohms on the wire at where the indoor switch is would that help. 

 

Probably not unless it's a dead short, you need an insulation tester, the Mk-1 eyeball is the best starting point.

[Leveraged]

I would probably start by removing one lightbulb and then flipping the switch. If it trips out again, reinstall lightbulb and move down the line trying again.

[Crossy]

How many lights in the string?

 

Go to the middle one and disconnect the wires, hopefully there will be 4, 2 in and 2 out to the next light.

Insulate the ends.

Test.

If it doesn't trip you know the problem is in the second bit, if it does you know the problem is in the first bit.

You can then split the faulty section in half in the same way.

 

For obvious reasons, it's called the "Half-split" method ???? 

[Kwasaki]

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

How many lights in the string?

 

Go to the middle one and disconnect the wires, hopefully there will be 4, 2 in and 2 out to the next light.

Insulate the ends.

Test.

If it doesn't trip you know the problem is in the second bit, if it does you know the problem is in the first bit.

You can then split the faulty section in half in the same way.

 

For obvious reasons, it's called the "Half-split" method ???? 

Yeah OK. So the power wires from to consumer unit to the switch on the wall I assume is all OK. 

 

The wires from the inside wall switch to where it meets the first light is where to start looking that is the forth light from left then another two to its right.

 

Before that I will check for water in the six light units and the wire connections. 

 

Thanks all report back when I get round to it. ????