2 way lighting fault - in steel conduit

[Johnny-G]

I was looking at someone's hall lighting the other day as neither of the fittings work.
It's 2 way with 2 fittings in an apartment all wired in singles in steel conduit.
There's power to & leaving switch A but no power at either fitting or switch B so there must be a cable break somewhere, only thing is that it's in steel conduit so how do you find the fault?
I don't normally work on steel conduit installations but was having a look for someone as a favour, stupid idea that was.

 

[Knobhead]

There’d have to be two breaks. One in each jumper. I’d go back and test again.

 

[polo1]

Singles in conduit - lucky you! Check for continuity and resistance and you should be on your way (especially if you are able to pull the singles through). Bare in mind, with steel conduit, it would take a serious drilling in the wrong place to cause damage to the singles.
Regards.

 

[Dave 85]

Hang on....2 broken live cables inside (an earthed ?) steel conduit and the circuit breaker is still on? hmmm...
Im guessing if there is a break its in a connection box somewhere

 

[telectrix]

has mr.diy struck here?

 

[Octopus]

Could their be an intermediate switch somewhere on the circuit? It does sound very odd.

 

[Johnny-G]

There’d have to be two breaks. One in each jumper. I’d go back and test again.

There's definitely no power at either fitting or switch B.
No intermediate switch.
No DIYing although I asked if there had been any work going on in the flat upstairs and apparently that's being refurbished but the builders would have to be seriously mad to drill through concrete floors although vibrations might've loosened something.
I've searched for a JB but can't find one, is there likely to be one as part of the conduit system which is plastered in?

 

[SirKit Breaker]

There's definitely no power at either fitting or switch B.
No intermediate switch.
No DIYing although I asked if there had been any work going on in the flat upstairs and apparently that's being refurbished but the builders would have to be seriously mad to drill through concrete floors although vibrations might've loosened something.
I've searched for a JB but can't find one, is there likely to be one as part of the conduit system which is plastered in?

Not unheard of to have JB's plastered in. I would also be retesting before doing anything else. Label everything up, disconnect it all, and con check every cable, and whilst you are at it do an IR test, and dont overlook faulty switches especially after a short circuit fault, but con check and IR tests should highlight where the problem lies. Does the live supply come in at one of the switches, or does it go to a hidden Jb somewhere that you cannot locate? Have you confirmed your neutral continuity?

Cheers............Howard

 

[GLENNSPARK]

There's definitely no power at either fitting or switch B.
No intermediate switch.
No DIYing although I asked if there had been any work going on in the flat upstairs and apparently that's being refurbished but the builders would have to be seriously mad to drill through concrete floors although vibrations might've loosened something.
I've searched for a JB but can't find one, is there likely to be one as part of the conduit system which is plastered in?

dont write them builders off!...ask when the fault first started.....then once you have a starting point....go ask them builders when they started banging and braying....probably drillin n all.....but dont let on your a sparky up front to em will you..lol......wont get owt out of em then..lol.....

 

[Johnny-G]

Jeez, it was the builders in the flat above.
They cut through the conduit with an angle grinder, incredible.

 

[a1guvner]

Jeez, it was the builders in the flat above.
They cut through the conduit with an angle grinder, incredible.

Quality :57:

 

[Knobhead]

Jeez, it was the builders in the flat above.
They cut through the conduit with an angle grinder, incredible.

Best of luck repairing that!
Told you both cores would be open, but I never thought like that!

 

[Johnny-G]

Luckily it's not my problem now mate, I'll leave it up to the competency of the builders

 

[johnboy6083]

whats the chances of getting a thread on that? lol