Ceiling Light Not Working?

Question

The ceiling light in my hallway is not working. I have:
-changed the light bulb
-reset the circuit breaker - other lights on this breaker are working
-checked the wires in the ceiling - they are still connected.
-checked the wires behind the switch - they are connected
-there is another switch in the same box - it is working.
What next? This is a fairly new light fixture (6 months or so old), so I don't think it could have died already, but I don't know.

Answer 1

If you have 2 switches controlling one fixture make sure they're in the on or off position all the way meaning make sure a child wasn't playing and has the switch in a neutral position, if that checks out I'd agree with prior answer and change the switch, eliminate the easiest 1st, good luck

Answer 2

hope this is an incandesant light fixture,
you should have a wire of black and white in the ceiling that you are connecting too from the fixture, the fixture has little wires compared to the 14 or 12 gage wire, sometimes the fixture wire will go into the wirenut BUT curl up on the insulation of the supply wire ( the 12 or 14) do this
try the bulb in a light that works
buy the voltage tester check power at the ceiling on and off with both switches
now you know the bulb is good and you get power,
take a smaller wire nut and connect the black wire to the black on the fixture really tight
now with the switch on just brush the white to white ,it will spark slightly if it comes on,
if not you have switch problems, assuming the switches are at opposite ends of the hall goto the further of the two and closest to the circuit breaker, that is where power should come in , take that switch out and you will see three wire look at the color of the screws the black one will be the circuit side lay the wire on one of the other two does not matter .
goto the fixture repeat the brush of the white,it should work, if not you have a wiring problem this is a 3-way wiring circuit., be really careful with live wiring , it can make you hurt yourself.

Answer 3

pull the switch out jump a test wire to the two wires. If the light comes on its the switch. If no light, buy a test light and check he wires at the fixture. If you got juice there its the fixture, if not you are in trouble. Probably a broken wire. Tie new wires to the old and pull from the other end. Most of the time you will be able to pull the new one through, sometimes it can be flustating but you don`t much other choice

Answer 4

Do you have a voltmeter? If so, you can switch the light switch on, remove the bulb, and put one probe on the tab in the center of the outlet, and one on the side metal of the outlet. Look for 110-120v. If there's power, try another bulb. If not, unscrew the outlet, and use the voltmeter on the wires coming into the fixture - power here but not at the outlet? Fixture's bad. (try reconnecting it again though; wires sometimes work lose. If it works, you're good.) OK, No power at the outlet or the wires leading into it. Next pull the switch and test those wires. (note - don't test across the wires going into the switch - you won't get a reading. Test across the white and black wires. Test all of them. if you get 120v anywhere, there is power at the switch. your switch is bad. (but again, reconnect the wiring making sure it is tight. If it still dosen't work, replace the switch.)

No voltmeter? (It is a cheap and very useful tool. I'd reccommend you buy one, FYI)

Disconnect and reconnect the wiring. Wiring likes to work lose if it is not connected properly sometimes. (Or if you have dissimilar metals like cu/al, but don't worry about this now)

Turn off the (or BOTH) circuits at the breaker box which poer the switch box in question. Connect the wire leading out to your ceiling light to the switch next to it, in the same box, which works. If the light works, replace the switch. If not, replace the fixture.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Hall Ceiling Light

Answer 6

Light bulbs out of the box can be bad take the new one and try it in a known good fixture. Switches can be bad. Get a touchless volt tester at the hardware store $10-15 make make sure the voltage is passing through switch. Voltage can also be tested at the light with the same tester by inserting it into the shell of the light.Is fixture florescent or incandescent. If its florescent the ballast can also be bad. When testing make sure your not grounded. Do not touch any plumbing or metal that may grounded.

Answer 7

I agree with Max B. Sometimes a wire can look OK, but the conductor can be broken inside the insulation. This can cause all sorts of intermittent problems, and is often the hardest problem to find. Good luck!

Answer 8

change wall light switch, ceiling light still not working

Answer 9

either the fixture is defective or a wire is cut or broken somewhere inside the wall or in the attic.

Answer 10

At this point you should contact a qualified electrician. Because, if you really DO have a wiring problem, this could prevent a fire. Be safe.