outside light stopped working??

[watson789]

Hi all

i have a problem with my outside light. i am doing a bit of moving around near the consumer unit and have put a new on/off switch on - this has 2 switches 1 for the back and 1 for the side light both worked fine before i put any new switches on.i switched the consumer unit off i then snipped the wires shorter (as i was moving the wire to a closer point) and then shuffled all the wires back a little into the conduit. i tested the on/off switch and it worked fine and so did the lights (both of which are on a sensor)... i then went to switch them off at the consumer unit again to tidy up and screw everything in.

5 minutes later i go to switch them on and the back floodlight comes on but the side light doesnt - i have tried switching the switches round and the back still works but the side doesnt come on!

help!!! i am out of ideas - i have looked around and cant see anything wrong, i have checked the switch with a neon screwdriver and there is current flowing through it ( on both switches)

does anyone have any idea why the side light has suddenly stopped working???

 

[cbw]

With the greatest of respect, have you checked the bulb?

 

[watson789]

there are 2 floodlights on the side of the house which are connected to this sensor - could they have both gone at the same time?? they were both working before secured everything.

 

[cbw]

Hmmm...Unlikely!

 

[watson789]

anyon else have any ideas? the lights were definitly working before as i went outside and inspected them. coul i have blown both bulbs at the same time -it seems very unlikely!

 

[Sintra]

Are there any neutrals in connectors that might have come loose when you were securing.

 

[ian.settle1]

Have you checked the switch to make sure the switch wire has not come out when putting the switch back now that you have shortend the cables ?

 

[Sintra]

Might also be at the sensor.

 

[watson789]

have been and checked every connection to make sure there is noting loose, i have tried a differnet switch and also tried it again when not secured into the back box and still no luck!

its strange because the switch is a 2 way double pole and 1 switch is connected to the back floodlight which works fine in which ever switch i place it in but the side light doesnt seem to work in either!

im totaly puzzled... is ther anything really simple im missing???

i havent touched the sensor for while espercially not today.

 

[Sintra]

have been and checked every connection to make sure there is noting loose, i have tried a differnet switch and also tried it again when not secured into the back box and still no luck!

its strange because the switch is a 2 way double pole and 1 switch is connected to the back floodlight which works fine in which ever switch i place it in but the side light doesnt seem to work in either!

im totaly puzzled... is ther anything really simple im missing???

i havent touched the sensor for while espercially not today.

Try putting the switched side for your side light into the feed side for your back light.

Do you need to link a feed across between your 2 switches or have you 2 seperate feeds?

 

[watson789]

thanks for the advice ill try tomorrow

 

[pushrod]

If you think everything is ok at the switch you need to check the bulbs and if you are getting power at them .