tiredofmakingshelves

tiredofmakingshelves t1_iyddhmc wrote

Reply to comment by Westerdutch in Lightbulb not working by BSPirat

It's in the UK, so start of winter. I'd bet either a mouse has moved in and chewed through a cable in the attic, or there was an old damaged cable in the wall with a screw through it and slight house movements due to temperature have moved damaged cable ends apart.

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tiredofmakingshelves t1_iydd5wf wrote

How do you know the switch is fine?

WITH THE POWER OFF: At the light, check continuity between the switch wires (test between the block of reds, and the black next to the brown). You should get continuity with the switch on, and no continuity with the switch off. If you don't get any continuity, then short the wires at the switch (can put them both in the same switch terminal) and retry. If you start getting continuity, replace the switch. If still nothing, you have a broken wire between the rose and the switch.

If you have a broken wire between rose and switch, there's probably a screw through it somewhere - check for pictures mounted above the switch. Replacing cables is a right pain - if you have attic access follow the wire up there and check for damage. If you're super lucky the fault is in the attic and you can replace a section (with an attic-accessible junction box) without damaging walls.

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