Electrical help guide , my lights are not working

02/02/10 Electrical help guide - My ceiling light is not working ? All my lights have gone off ?

My customers always phone me with the same problems , so I've decided to provide help guides and add to my blogs , see what you experts think

If you have switched your light on and it does not work , it is either a problem with the circuit or the lamp / bulb . When it is more than one light that has been affected it may be the circuit . For just the one llight , its more likely to be the lamp .

Lamp change - you should always make sure the power is switched off before attempting to change the lamp . If you are unsure the direction of the switch , when it’s a 2 way circuit in a hall for example , pull the fuse or switch off .the circuit breaker Simply remove the lamp and renew with the same type . Most light fittings will have a maximum wattage stamped on the fitting and you should never exceed this . Fluorescent lights may need a starter in addition to a lamp . For low voltage lighting it may be a faulty transformer and should only be changed by an electrician .

Check the circuit - find the fuse box / consumer unit usually located beside the meter . If you find you have an older fuse box with pull out fuses and wire I would recommend calling an electrician . The fuse can go with a loud bang and can take longer to blow than circuit breakers . If you have a circuit breakers then you can simply switch on and the lights will work . If your lights have come back on then you will often find you have a lamp out as circuit breakers are sensitive to filament fracture . If there appears to be no reason for the fuse to blow you should have a visual check on the switches and lights on the circuit . If you find it does not reset then call an electrician .