[Pos1]

moved into house around 4 years ago. Yard lamp post never worked. I have no idea how it's wired...but presumably to the garage (its across the driveway from a newer detached garage).

A couple years ago I tried to simply test for power. i put probes on each of the light bulb connections and saw nothing. I don't know if that's a valid test. All the outlets in the garage work, so it's not a tripped GFI in the garage (or in the house).

Can somebody provide me with the first 3-4 tests I can do to try to narrow down the problem. Here is my plan, but not sure if I'm missing anything obvious.

1. I'm thinking I can possibly take the top off (not sure) and then directly test the wiring for power.
2. If I have power, then test the photoelectric eye by just putting tape over it (i think I already did this...but don't remember for sure).
3. No idea where to go next, since I don't know the source of power.

interestingly enough, there's an "outlet" coming out of the ground at the base of the lamp post. it really just looks like somebody buried an extension cord. I've tried it...and it doesn't have power. No idea if that's related...not do I know where the source of that power is. There is nothing that looks like the other end wired inside the garage that I can find, although there is conduit coming from the slab that does to a master power switch to the garage. As nice as it would be to have power there, this is really an unrelated side note.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Bud9051]

Do you have any switches in house or garages that don't seem to control anything?
When was that part of house built, before GFI?
Are there any GFI outlets in the garage? To reset they must be turned all the way off and then back on.
Has there been any digging in that area? You mentioned a newer garage.
Are breakers all labeled?

Best
Bud

 

[Pos1]

Do you have any switches in house or garages that don't seem to control anything?

No

When was that part of house built, before GFI?

House was built in 1978. Lots of modifications. was a tuck-under garage since turned to living space before we moved in. Hence the detached garage. No idea when the post was installed.

Are there any GFI outlets in the garage? To reset they must be turned all the way off and then back on. Yes. all outlets are working. But I'll check again.

Has there been any digging in that area? You mentioned a newer garage.
Are breakers all labeled?

No digging. Breakers are not well labeled, but I've been relabeling as I've done work around the house. There is 1 labeled "Garage Fault" and 1 labeled "Garage". Neither is tripped. I know all the electrical in the garage works as expected since the garage doors work, outlets work, dog fence is powered, etc.

Best
Bud

 

[dmxtothemax]

You need to establish exactly where the post gets it's power from.
Do you know which circuit it comes from ?
How does it connect to the house ?
Does it come from a nearby outlet or a dedicated circuit ?
Once you know this then you can work backwards from the lamp post.
But you need to know the order of things to start with.
Most likely fault is the underground cable.