Electric circuit problem

[Coach James]

Here is the situation. Everything in the house is energized except the wires going to a porch light. All the breakers are in the on position. The porch light worked up until 6 or 7 days ago.

Would the most likely culprit be the breaker for the porch light? Or is there something I could have missed?

Thanks

Coach

 

[NorthNjWK]

Is there any GFCI outlets that feed the light? I had the same thing happen last week and I had a GFCI in the basement I didn't know about(new to me house). I reset it and that solved the problem.

 

[38 Dodge Coupe]

If the power is energized from the breaker to the switch, then I would check the porch light switch (assuming of course it is not a burned out bulb . I have replaced several switches in my house because they just broke internally.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Have you tested for power up to the switch?
Start at the breaker and work to the light.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Check the switch also check the wires at the switch. Check the connections for the wires starting at the light and working back to the breaker. It is unlikely that that light is the only thing on that breaker.

 

[Mustang51js]

Did you check to see if bulb is good,what type of switch controls it. I've seen dead bugs fill up the socket so the bulb doesn't make connection

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What brand of breaker panel do u have?

Start by checking for power at the light switch...

 

[MikeF2316]

Is there any GFCI outlets that feed the light? I had the same thing happen last week and I had a GFCI in the basement I didn't know about(new to me house). I reset it and that solved the problem.

My brother had this happen to the lights in his garage. The GFCI outlet was behind a set of shelves full of stuff.

 

[2Big2Ride]

Our outdoor light problem was the back stabbed hot wire in the switch right next to switch that controlled the outdoor light.

 

[38 Dodge Coupe]

So Coach- how did you make out with your electric issue?

 

[Coach James]

So this is where it's at now. I started at the light socket and worked my way backwards. I found there was voltage into the wall switch but none coming out.

I replaced the wall switch and now there is voltage all the way to the light socket.

When I checked the socket, with switch in "on", it measured 120 volts.

Still the bulb would not come on. I tried a second and third bulb and none will come on.

So what did I miss? Something that should be obvious I imagine.

I also found a second switch for an overhead light that was so bad, I could rotate the toggle around 360 degrees easily. It was almost at the point of falling out. I replaced it also.


Thanks

Coach

 

[Slowgsr]

Sounds like the bad socket, you may need to extend the tab in the base of the socket, bulb tip may not be making contact

 

[Coach James]

Sounds like the bad socket, you may need to extend the tab in the base of the socket, bulb tip may not be making contact

I swear if that's it, I'm going to blow a gasket.

Coach

 

[joel63]

I swear if that's it, I'm going to blow a gasket.

Coach

No need to blow a gasket Coach, it's just a learning experience.

 

[Orionrising]

did you check the neutral at the switch? did you knock its connection loose when replacing the switch?

(assuming it passes through the box)

 

[Mustang51js]

Yeah if your getting 120 then everything is working,I've had plenty of times where I had to bend tab out in socket to get it to touch bulb. Sometimes bulb gets screwed in to far and then the next bulb won't go as far in so it doesn't work

 

[Coach James]

What's annoying is that I have had to do that to other sockets before, but I just forgot this time. My mom lives about an hour away so it will be Saturday before I am there again.

Thanks for all the replies.

Coach

 

[Coach James]

Finally got it working for my mom. When I checked the socket today, sometimes it was getting 120V and sometimes just 3 or 4V. I replaced the light fixture and consistent 120V.

So I replaced a switch that was soon to burn the house down, replaced a second broken switch and a light fixture.

Mom is happy and her house is safer for her.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Coach

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Good job!

 

[bobmulry]

OK.....OK

I am going to tell a story about myself.....

At night while pulling up to my garage I noticed that 1 of the 3 outside lights was not lighting......

So next morning I grab a bulb and the step ladder to fix the problem....

Go to remove the defective bulb (which was installed by King Kong) and the socket wants to turn with the bulb.....

I snake my hand under the CFL bulb to hold the socket, but it stills turned slightly before the bulb loosened......

Replace bulb and cap, into the house to turn on the outside lights and guess what...Nothing happened

Back out to the garage light up the ladder, removed bulb and no power at the socket...Must have twisted the wires inside and popped the breaker. Checked breakers OK......

Must be a loose wire nut behind the fixture...Removed the fixture and all nuts tight with no power in or out.......

I was just getting ready to try and trace back the circuit when a little light went on.....

WOW It's daylight and the photocell controlled lights would be off.....

I in all fairness to myself, had just recently purchased this house and I was still getting used to it.....

Waited until it was dark and the light worked perfectly.....

This was just an easy way to turn a 5 minute job into and hour of BS....

Bob

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Ouuch! Though it has happened to me before in similar things!