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Power to ceiling fixture but not working

3K views 42 replies 8 participants last post by  hkstroud 
#1 ·
I have a kitchen light fixture that stopped working, the light bulbs worked in another fixture so I figured I needed a new fixture. Bought a new one and it still won't work. When I test the power at the fixture box in the ceiling I read around 115v with my multimeter. But when I hook up the new fixture and test for voltage I get nothing. The wall switch seems to be working because when I test for voltage with the switch off I read nothing and with the switch on I read 115v. So something seems to happen when I hook up the fixture, any ideas?
 
#35 ·
Yes, start with the ones that are physically closest to the switch.
This is so strange that I think at this time I would double check my self.
I would disconnect the switch. Separate the neutrals. Do a voltage check to find out which one is the power in cable. Connect the light to that cable to see if it works there.
 
#39 · (Edited)
That makes no sense at all. You should have voltage between the black and white of one cable. There should be nothing on the other cable. One should be the power coming in (probably the 115 cable), the other cable should just a piece of wire in the wall between the switch box and the light box. At this time it should be connected to nothing. It should have no voltage.

Disconnect the ground wires and check voltage again (I'm getting desperate).

What is above the kitchen, could you see the cables from above , like an attic?

When the light fixture is connected to the power in cable it should work.

PS. I assume you are using a multi meter to check voltage. Check you settings. I only say that because I was checking something a few days ago. I was not getting the readings I should have. After screwing things up for a while I saw that I had the meter set to DC voltage.
 
#41 · (Edited)
OK. Try to visualize how a reasonable electrician would run the cable from breaker box to all the things on the circuit. He would try to use the least amount of cable.
Then start looking at each connection. Starting t the one you think is closest to switch along the cable.

I can't see any way for the cable between the switch and the light to have power on it if it is disconnected at the switch. Are there any other lights or outlets that don't work with the switch removed? Check everything.
 
#42 ·
Hk - would a shared neutral explain his readings? In other words if a neutral is shared between circuits 2 and 4, and he puts his tester on the non-supply hot could the disconnected neutral have voltage on it that is trying to return to earth, and thereby give him that 100 volt reading? As you can probably tell i sm not an electrician.

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