Any Electricians in NJ?

[blklegend]

I need some help, about last week starting, my garage light (Flourecent lights) did not work. I checked the circuit breaker and it was in the middle position. OK I thought no bigger, switched it off then back on. a few seconds later, I hear a buzz and it jumps again, lights are even turned on yet. So I figured ok might be a bad circuit breaker, I replace it still the same thing, jumps on its own. I checked the distribution boxes and all looks to be wired properly, nothing touching, etc..

So I am confused? Anyone have any ideas? Anyone an electrician in Central NJ?

 

[Gary S]

You possibly have a shorted wire somewhere in the wall or in one of the lights themselves. Have you done any work on walls where you used nails or screws into the wall recently?
The first thing I would do is disconnect the lights and see if the breaker holds. If it does, find the light with the short.

 

[blklegend]

Could it be the on off switches, because the lights are off.

 

[larry_g]

It sounds like you have access to the distribution boxes so I would suggest trying to guess where the middle of the circuit is and disconnecting there eliminating 1/2 of the load. Try the power up and if the breaker holds then your short ( I'm assuming a short) is beyond where you disconnected. If still popping the breaker then go 1/2 way back to the box and disconnect again, try the breaker. Do this until you isolate the section with the short in it. By dividing the circuit in half you effectivly check 50 % of the circuit in one check. Now you have isolated the the section ehere the short is you can proceed to look for the short.

Tell us what test gear you have if any. There are other ways to check things but I'm assuming that if you had proper test gear you would not be asking the question. Another question is; does the circuit breaker break immediately on energizing the breaker? I also think that I read that the light switch is off when you power up the breaker?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[blklegend]

Thanks for the reply, I'll try to isolate it this weekend, as when I get home from work its dark already and with no lights its kind of a pain. lol

As for test equipment all I have is a multimeter.

Regarding circuit breaker breaking when energizing, if energizing means when I switch it to the on position and then I here a buzzing noise, then yes, it jumps right to the middle after the buzzing noise. It does this even with the lights off...

 

[larry_g]

I would then lift the wire from the switch to start checking as it sounds like the problem is between the breaker and the switch. One thing to check is, is the switch breaking the hot or neutral? Also is this circuit only supplying the lights or are there other things powered up by this circuit? Do you believe this to be a quality wiring job, or is this some old garage that many previous owners have hacked away at to get power around the building? Also Gary S has a very valid question, have there been any recent modifications or repairs?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[blklegend]

How do I check if the switch is breaking hot or neutral? No the wiring job is decent, looks pretty organized. No modifications to my garage recently.

Ok the circuit seems to be wired just for the lights, but its kind of weird, because at the circuit breaker box, it seems to be paired with another breaker that runs out to a 220 volt outlet, which has nothing plugged in.

I'll try to take a pic this weekend.

 

[larry_g]

How do I check if the switch is breaking hot or neutral? No the wiring job is decent, looks pretty organized. No modifications to my garage recently.

Ok the circuit seems to be wired just for the lights, but its kind of weird, because at the circuit breaker box, it seems to be paired with another breaker that runs out to a 220 volt outlet, which has nothing plugged in.

I'll try to take a pic this weekend.

It should be breaking the black wire.

If you are connected to a paired breaker then you definatly have something wrong. A simple light circuit should only have a single breaker.. In your first post you said that you replaced the breaker, was it a connected breaker for 220v use or a duplex breaker used to get 2 110v circuits in one slot? To confirm tell us if on the breaker you you can move one switch paddle at a time or if moving one paddle makes them both move? I'm sorry if this may insult you but I have no way of knowing your experience leval and I don't want to give information on bad intel. I would hate to see you burn up something because the whole picture was not presented correctly to the internet community. It really sounds to me like you are a bit out of your league here and should consider getting someone to come in who can acess what is really going on.


lg
no neat sig line

 

[blklegend]

Thanks, and no its not an insult, I actually no next to nothing on home electrical systems, that is why I am seeing if anyone here is an electrician close by that is willing to come by and help me take a look. I have no problems paying them, I just want an electrician that I can trust and this board seems to have have good people on it.

 

[NJ Diver]

Did you ever get to the root of the problem?

 

[blklegend]

Did you ever get to the root of the problem?

No not yet, haven't been able to get home early enough. I see you are from NJ, think you have any ideas of possibly help?

 

[NJ Diver]

I think the best first step is the advice given earlier. Try cutting the circuit in half and then put the breaker back on and see if you still have the same result.

Where in NJ are you?