Expert: Ivan Ramirez - 1/14/2008

Question
QUESTION: Mr. Ramirez my ceiling light just stopped working  I thought it was just the bulb but tried two others in it and that was not it so i bought a new fixture tried that and still no light so i returned the fixture and tried the switch but that wasn't the problem either so now i am out of ideas could you please help

ANSWER: You need a good voltage tester.  first go to the two wires feeding the light fixture (the black and white) and test for 120 volts.  if there is no power there, go to the switch and test for 120 between one of the screws of the switch and ground, if there is no power there then you need to trace the wire to where it comes from, possibly another box in the attic.  Don't forget to check the breakers and make sure that none has been tripped.  Good Luck.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mr. Ramirez ok got the tester it is very hard to under stand but maybe you can understand it it is a multimeter reader with green black and red numbers and a red and a black lead wire as you suggested I checked the wires for the light first I set the meter for ac 250 because there was no setting for 120 the reading was under 50 in the black numbers on the meter and the light switch reads between 100 and 150 in the black numbers so does this make any sense to you and if so do i have a bad wire i made sur all of the connection in the switch box were tight and secure hope yuo can get back to me today kathleen

Answer
ok the setting for volts ac 250 is correct.  you need to turn on the switch and use the test leads to check the voltage between the black and white wires at the light fixture.  If you get 120 volts, you have power and something is wrong with the fixture.  if you don't have power,then go the switch.  from one screw to the ground wire should have 120 volts and the other screw to ground should be 0 volts  when the switch is off.  when you turn on the switch, both screws should show 120 volts to ground.  if this is not true, then you have a bad switch.  

on your tester- does the black numbers say Volts AC?  that is the ones you want to do read.

If you go to the light with the switch on and it reads about 50 volts AC then you have a faulty neutral.  That means that the black power wire is good but the white neutral wire is broken somewhere.