Electricians: Chandelier went out but it's getting current

[wutamess]

Originally Posted by UberSparky

It goes crazy because you still have a hot. Neutral can't be tested with that thing.

Ugh... so electrician needs to be called with a 20 foot ladder?

[UberSparky]

Originally Posted by wutamess

Ugh... so electrician needs to be called with a 20 foot ladder?

And informed of height. Most of us don't carry ladders that tall on our trucks. You sure its 20 foot?

[wutamess]

Originally Posted by UberSparky

And informed of height. Most of us don't carry ladders that tall on our trucks. You sure its 20 foot?

More like 15.

[UberSparky]

With new information I believe your assessment that it is not the switch. Unfortunately most likely problem lies 20 feet up in the box.

[wutamess]

Even if the lights themselves are showing hot?

[UberSparky]

In box in ceiling you have a switched hot and neutral. If the tick tester reads at bulb when switch is on and not when its off, it is reasonable to assume you have power. Only remaining answer if this is true(need multimeter to be sure) is loose neutral in switch box, fixture box, or previous device box that is still working but not providing neutral down line to chandelier.

[I'mAlwaysRight]

How many romex cables are in the switch box? Or, does the switch have a black and a white wire? Or two black wires? If you take the two wires off the switch and touch them together (or jumper across them), does the fixture light up?

[wutamess]

Originally Posted by I'mAlwaysRight

How many romex cables are in the switch box? Or, does the switch have a black and a white wire? Or two black wires? If you take the two wires off the switch and touch them together (or jumper across them), does the fixture light up?

one black wire and one white wire with a ground cutoff still inside the 1 romex cable.
I won't blow something if I touch them together?

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by wutamess

one black wire and one white wire with a ground cutoff still inside the 1 romex cable.
I won't blow something if I touch them together?

That's what he's testing.

[I'mAlwaysRight]

Originally Posted by wutamess

one black wire and one white wire with a ground cutoff still inside the 1 romex cable.
I won't blow something if I touch them together?

The white *should* be the hot (feed) at the switch, the black *should* be the switch leg back to the fixture. You won't blow anything up, but you'll get a small arc that might startle you. All this does is bypass the switch to eliminate that as a possible problem. I asked about the wiring because it could have been fed from the switch (two romexes) with the neutral tied together in the switch box, but it doesn't look like that's the case. If bypassing the switch and it still doesn't light, the yeah, you've probably lost the neutral (grounded conductor).

[wutamess]

Originally Posted by I'mAlwaysRight

The white *should* be the hot (feed) at the switch, the black *should* be the switch leg back to the fixture. You won't blow anything up, but you'll get a small arc that might startle you. All this does is bypass the switch to eliminate that as a possible problem. I asked about the wiring because it could have been fed from the switch (two romexes) with the neutral tied together in the switch box, but it doesn't look like that's the case. If bypassing the switch and it still doesn't light, the yeah, you've probably lost the neutral (grounded conductor).

So the neutral is the ground wire? the one that's tucked back inside the Romex?

[UberSparky]

Originally Posted by wutamess

So the neutral is the ground wire? the one that's tucked back inside the Romex?

You don't have a neutral at all on that switch box

[UberSparky]

Sorry about your luck. Feel free to call me if you want I can tell you if you are being charged fairly. Raytown is a bit too far for me to travel. Wish I could have been more help.

[wutamess]

Heres a pic

[wutamess]

I can take it off right quick and see... so do it?