Problems with Electricity?

Question

We just moved into a house and the light in the dining room does not work. The light and switch are new. All of the wires have power with the tester, but once the light is connected, it no longer works. We have tried a couple of lights (one of them worked just an hour before). Any ideas??

The neutral is connected properly

It is not a 3 way or knob and tube wiring. We don't know the voltage or which wires are receiving voltage.
We are using a tester with the wires and bulb. The house was built in '71 and I don't know who lived here last, so I don't know who wired it.

Answer 1

Assuming that is it wired correctly and properly grounded and the wires aren't cracked, etc, I would guess that either the new light or the switch is faulty.

Answer 2

You must not be using a voltage tester or you would know 110 volts sounds like your using just a light that shows voltage test the black to white for a light at switch side turn switch on and check other side for light if you get the light on both sides of switch go to the black wire at the light fixture itself now check for a light there if you have one there test for light from black to ground or green sounds like no ground or neutral at the light fixture

Answer 3

1st lets assume u know white is nuetral wire and does not get connected to switch 2nd at the switch there should be 2 different colored wires (possibly not may be same color) but i am positive i could walk u thru this with more info does ur tester have 2 probes is there a metal box in wall for switch

Answer 4

check voltage at switch with light turned on and connected
you may have to use a separate ground
if volts drop then maybe breaker or wires are bad
but if you don't know electricity then you should get someone that does.

Answer 5

you arent providing enough information to diagnose or narrow downt he problem and it could be anything.
is it a 3-way?
is it knob and tube wiring?
has it been wired by someone who wasnt qualified ?
what voltage are you reading?
how old is the fixture ?
across what wires are you receiving voltage?

unless you know how the circut operates and are well versed in electrcial wiring - you should call someone who does.

Answer 6

two ways for this to be wired.with one switch only...(1 )if there is two cables with two wires plus ground coming into box where light attaches.....120 volts power on one cable other cable goes to switch...you must use a volt meter and check for contuinity on the wire you think goes to switch...flip switch on shows circuit...flip switch off no circuit....the white wire on the cable that has power goes to light fixture...the black wire on the cable that has power on it attaches to white wire going to switch(this is the only way a black wire is allowed to attach to a white wire).....the black wire from the switch attaches to light fixture...(2) only one cable in box where light attaches no explanation should be needed both wires connect to light...power comes from wires in light switch box.........if there is more than two cables in box where light attaches only one of them should have power...identify switch cable... hook light up exact same way ....... the other wires connect to the cable that has the power on it not the wire coming from the switch leg

Answer 7

if you have power just to the switch but not the light you may have a bad switch.
if you have power to the box that the light goes on to your power most likely is going to ground. as electricity is a dangerous playmate you should have someone with experience work on it

Answer 8

is the light new or the bulb?? inside the light you will see a
tab in the center,, this sometimes gets squished too far into the socket so it does not make contact with the end of the bulb!!! or the socket may have a defect,,,,

Answer 9

It may not be wired correctly, check and make sure your neutral is connected properly.

Answer 10

If you don't know what's wrong leave it to an electrician.