- 1). Unscrew the light bulb from its socket in the ceiling. Find a working light in another room. Turn off its switch and unscrew the bulb from its socket. Plug the first light bulb into the socket and turn on the light switch to test the light bulb. Failure of the bulb to light will indicate that the bulb is broken.
- 2). Locate the circuit breaker which feeds power to the circuit where the light problem exists. Unscrew the panel cover with a screwdriver. Turn on your multimeter and set its dial to 110 volts AC range. Touch the metal tip of one prong against the terminal screw at the end of the 110-volt circuit breaker, then touch the metal tip of the other prong against the neutral bus bar. Look at your multimeter. A reading of approximately 110 to 120 volts AC indicates that the circuit breaker is OK. If there is no reading, then the circuit breaker is either broken or was tripped by a short circuit.
- 3). Turn off the light switch. Reset the circuit breaker by flipping the switch to its "Off" position, then flipping the switch back to its "On" position. Test the circuit breaker by touching the metal tip of one prong against the terminal screw at the end of the 110-volt circuit breaker and touching the metal tip of the other prong against the neutral bus bar.
- 4). View the multimeter. A multimeter reading of 110 to 120 volts AC indicates that the breaker is working, but was probably tripped by a short circuit. The circuit breaker is busted if there is still no reading. Refer the job to an electrician if you have determined that there is a short circuit.
- 5). Test the light switch. Turn off the main circuit breaker inside the electrical panel. Unscrew the faceplate of the light switch with a screwdriver. Unscrew the retaining screws that hold the switch to the switch box. Pull the switch out of the switch box to view the terminal screws at each end of the switch.
- 6). Turn on your multimeter and set its dial to "continuity." Flip the light switch to its "on" position. Touch the tip of a multimeter prong against a terminal screw behind the switch, then touch the tip of the other prong against the other terminal screw. You should hear an audible sound coming from the multimeter indicating that the switch is OK. Change the switch if it is busted. Otherwise, place the switch back to its box and replace its cover.
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