[thebuzz07]

I have a lamp post outside my house that has never worked. There was an old light bulb in there, which I removed and replaced with a new one. I thought I knew which switch controlled the light, but it didn't end up doing anything. I checked the socket and wires with a non-contact voltage checker and it showed that it wasn't energized.

My problem is that I can't find any switch that controls it. I looked all over the house, including the basement, and nothing that I found controlled the fixture. I even checked the circuit breaker panel and nothing is labeled "outdoor lights" or something similar. I thought about using a circuit breaker finder, but those will only work on an energized circuit. Is there another way to find the circuit without having to pull up the Romex cable or calling an electrician? Thanks in advance!

 

[Colbyt]

It may be fed off a GFIC that has tripped. Around here that type of thing is after the GFIC for the outside plugs and then switched.


Do you have outside plugs and are they all working?

 

[sweiss17]

Same situation; I found the switch on the inside of the coat closet on the wall facing away from me.... just another place to check.

 

[Wiredindallas]

Look around the foundation of the house to see if you see a conduit coming out of the ground and entering the house. Could be it.

 

[thebuzz07]

@Colbyt, I checked both of the outlets outside and none of GFCIs were tripped. They are also not controlled by any switch, to my knowledge.
@Wiredindallas, I also checked in the basement to see any cables coming through from the foundation, and I only saw ones that were running to light switches and outlets in the room above. None of the text on the Romex matched the red lettering on the Romex in the lamp post.

 

[Old Thomas]

A house my son owns has a post light in the front yard and I can’t figure out where it would get power. I put a solar post light from Amazon on it and it lights every night.

 

[Datawise]

Another option is the garage. Some where the cable must come above grade and is powered...

If you cannot see it at all, then it likely has been abandoned. I would put a tracer on it and see if it can be traced.

Typically posts are wired into the switch at the front door. Perhaps it has been disconnected because the wire is damaged and trips the breaker or something. The switch you thought logically, might have been the correct one, but is disconnected...

Cheers
John

 

[surferdude2]

Maybe there's a photocell somewhere??? Also check in the garage or basement for a timer. It could even have been using a 12 volt bulb(camper bulb), in which case you should find a transformer somewhere. Maybe connected to the lawn sprinkler control clock/transformer, if such there be.

 

[thebuzz07]

Thanks everyone for the responses! I have checked all of the GFCIs again and still don't see anything tripped. After trying all of the suggestions with no luck, I'm beginning think the lamp post was disconnected after all, but I'll have to confirm that. I'll update the post if I find anything out. Thanks again!