[fastranger]

I have no power in the ground wire that is conected to light post. This wire is also not conected to any gfci.
The funny thing is i have power at the light swich and is in the house. Can any one help me.

Rick

 

[AllanJ]

You'll want to (turn off the breaker and) use a continuity tester or ohm meter to see that the hot, neutral, and bare conductors out to the lamp post are intact and/or whether the switch you are examining is indeed the switch for that line.

Many ohmmeter (breaker off) tests throughout the house can be done using a single conductor long wire stretched out across floors and up stairs (or out in the yard) to the other end of the suspected bad wire and back to where you are working.

 

[rgsgww]

Get a volt tester so you don't fry yourself. TURN THE POWER OFF, TEST EACH WIRE!

I find the switch that powers this, would help to trace the line.

If you find the switch but it still does not work, disconnect the wires at both ends. Twist all of the wires together at one end (for testing, do NOT turn the breaker on! unless you want 4th of july to happen in the breaker. Use a continuity tester to check each wire to wire combination to verify the cable is not broken. Untwist the wires and test each combination to verify there is no wire to wire short. Post results.

What color/type cable feeds this? Any paper in it? Is it grey? How deep is it buried?

 

[RegeSullivan]

I am not sure what you are asking. You state "I have no power in the ground wire that is conected to light post". A ground wire should not normally have power. Am I missing something?

 

[Bigplanz]

I am not sure what you are asking. You state "I have no power in the ground wire that is conected to light post". A ground wire should not normally have power. Am I missing something?

I assumed he meant that he tested the ground and it wouldn't complete a circuit on a tester. Mine is one of those simple two contact probe wires and a glow light. Touch one probe in the hot and one in the ground slot and the tester glows good, indicating the ground is working.

 

[Gary_602z]

I assumed he meant that he tested the ground and it wouldn't complete a circuit on a tester. Mine is one of those simple two contact probe wires and a glow light. Touch one probe in the hot and one in the ground slot and the tester glows good, indicating the ground is working.

I thought he mean't the power wire that was buried in the ground!

Gary

 

[fastranger]

i am not sure what you are asking. You state "i have no power in the ground wire that is conected to light post". A ground wire should not normally have power. Am i missing something?

hope i can make this sound a little better.
The cable runs from the house under ground and to the light post.that end is dead,no power.the other end that is conected to the swich is in the house and is live.i also noticed the cable is a (nm)cable and not a (uf) cable doe's this matter? When the house was built in 96 thats what they used.

Rick

 

[rgsgww]

Nm cable undeground has the possibility of the insulation deteriorating, thus, creating a short circuit. This would likely trip the breaker though.

Has the light worked before?

Try my previous suggestion, this should tell you if there is a short or break in the line.

 

[fastranger]

Get a volt tester so you don't fry yourself. TURN THE POWER OFF, TEST EACH WIRE!

I find the switch that powers this, would help to trace the line.

If you find the switch but it still does not work, disconnect the wires at both ends. Twist all of the wires together at one end (for testing, do NOT turn the breaker on! unless you want 4th of july to happen in the breaker. Use a continuity tester to check each wire to wire combination to verify the cable is not broken. Untwist the wires and test each combination to verify there is no wire to wire short. Post results.

What color/type cable feeds this? Any paper in it? Is it grey? How deep is it buried?

the wire is white has a black,white,and ground and has a flat profile no paper inside.(is this bad)?is not grey,also is buried approx 20".the light did work.the swich that turns the light on and off also apears to have jumpers.:huh:

 

[rgsgww]

Are you sure its type nm? Uf has no paper, some romex has no paper, most does though.

Jumpers? You mean like "pigtails"? Three wires twisted together with one wire going to the switch? Do they go into the back of the switch (not under the screw) if so, its called backstabbing and its approved but not very reliable.

 

[RegeSullivan]

I have UF in my current house that is white for a lampost in front of the house. If you can get to a few feet of the cable you may be able to clean it off a little and read what it says on the cable. If has no paper and the covering seems to be molded around the white balck and bare wire it is likely to be UF.

Rege