Need electricians help, how to use volt meter

[kfd82]

Cooyon! Take dem wire out da flipaswich and put dem on yo toungue!

I tell you right sho, you gonna know if dem wire is hot no.

[Tbar]

Simple things first......try another light bulb. A regular incadecent, not a curly cfl type(sometimes cfl's won't screw all the way down).

Next, with the switch on test the light socket. One probe to the bottom of the light socket, one to the side of the socket. Do you have voltage?

No go, pull the light fixture down and test the wires going to the back of the light socket. (Is this a light/ceiling fan?)

Still no go? Test for voltage on each switch. Black probe to bare ground wire, red probe to the screws on the side of each switch.

Still no go? Looking at that picture I am betting both switches share a hot source. Look for either a jumper wire from the right switch to the left switch or they are both have pigtails coming from under a wire nut in the back of the box(black colored wire). If there is a jumper wire coming from the right switch rework the connection on the right switch. If they have pigtails coming from a wire nut check to see if one has come loose. Also check the wire nut on the white wires.

Tell us what you come up with...........


Tbar

[4.6coupe]

If you want to confirm the switches are actually bad or good, kill power feed, "breaker," disconnect the wires going to it"the switch". Then set meter on ohms/resistance. Put both leads together and it should read o/l. Release and it should read 0.0 ohms or pretty close to it. Thats means the settings correct. Then place leads on the switch and activate it. The meter should change from a direct short to nothing meaning the switch is doing its job of opening and closing. Be careful messing with 110 vac. Its the #1 killer when it comes to electricity. Just remember if holding a bare black wire when hot to not ground yourself with any part of your body or you will tickle your innerds. That is all. Be safe.

The light switch is only breaking and making the black "hot" wire to the circuit. Make sense?!

[wassaw]

is you cell phone on vibrate????

[Cajun Blake]

thx for the assistance as I'm gonna re-read these posts and try to remedy the problem later this afternoon

[Texastaxi]

Did you check the bulb?

[super_dave]

is you cell phone on vibrate????

I hate that!!! Scares the crap outta me every time!

[Txjourneyman]

If I teach you how to use the meter will you teach me how to cook?

[Tmag]

Grab a butter knife and stick it in........nope .....on second thought ....don't do that..

I always use a couple paper clips to test the power.






NOT!!!!!!!


Lot of great electricians on this site Blake, if I was closer I would come take care of it for you. I have a deep respect for electricity since I learned at an early age not to mess with Christmas lights barefooted in a wet yard and again on a damp roof.

[blacksunshine]

it's not the volts that get ya, it's the amps! lol

blake, if you think it's a switch, just replace the dang thing...what are they, like a buck? also, if you have any alligator clip test leads you can just bypass the switch, hit the breaker and see if the lights come on

several ways to verify....but the 9v battery tongue test is not one to use here

[4.6coupe]

it's not the volts that get ya, it's the amps! lol

blake, if you think it's a switch, just replace the dang thing...what are they, like a buck? also, if you have any alligator clip test leads you can just bypass the switch, hit the breaker and see if the lights come on

several ways to verify....but the 9v battery tongue test is not one to use here

True. Its the current that will get ya, But id rather get hit with ac than dc any day of the week... I want a fighting chance of getting thrown off!!!

[wassaw]

I hate that!!! Scares the crap outta me every time!

I had my head in a 440 panel back when pagers were the rage....... secretary paged me. I thought i had been gotten took a few minutes to go back in.....

[avidhunter75]

Blake, if your not getting any voltage on the terminals, check for voltage on the wires themselves (I never trust the stab-in feature) or wire nut them together (turn the breaker off before you dismantle the connections) then turn the breaker back on to see if light is on. I'll pm you my number so you can call if you need more help.

[muzzyslinger]

Yup, turn off the power and wear regular leather gloves, that will protect you from 120v just in case. Move the wires from the stab ins on the back of the switch to the side terminals (screws). If that doesn't work, we will go deeper!

not saying your wrong,but I think you need rubber gloves. you can wear the leather gloves over the rubber to protect them from getting torn

[blacksunshine]

not saying your wrong,but I think you need rubber gloves. you can wear the leather gloves over the rubber to protect them from getting torn

Gloves are for wimps