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Systematic Circuit Tracing and Isolation

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1:30
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Master Electrician Dad Teaches Son how to Troubleshoot Broken Parking-Lot Lights, Thoughts?

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What happens here

The troubleshooting process involves working systematically from the known working parts of the circuit towards the unknown faulty parts. Start at the closest light fixture to the main power source that is part of the affected circuit. Check its connections and then move to the next fixture down the line. The goal is to isolate sections by checking connections or using splice points, attempting to get parts of the lighting circuit to stay on. By progressively working your way down the circuit, from the point closest to the building outward, you can pinpoint the exact section or individual fixture where the short circuit exists. This detective work continues until the fault is isolated and can be repaired.

Goal: Locate the exact point of the short circuit by progressively isolating and testing sections of the lighting circuit.

Tools and materials

  • Headlamp or Flashlight Petzl — Illuminating work areas, especially if working in low light conditions or at night
  • Ladder or Lift Werner — Accessing high light fixtures and overhead junction boxes
  • Lineman's Pliers Klein Tools — Cutting and twisting wires for testing or repair
  • Multimeter Fluke — Testing continuity, voltage, and resistance at various points in the circuit
  • Wire Strippers Klein Tools — To prepare wire ends for testing or repair if splices need to be redone

What they say

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>> No. So, then we can open it up, go back to the breaker, and see if we've cured the short. So, that's really what this is about. It's detective work. We need to go to the closest point, the closest light fixture, and see if we can get those to stay on. And we keep working our way until we find that short.

Auto-generated from the video audio.