Landing light on, cant switch off

ketherin

Really strange thing, had someone fit a loft ladder for me yesterday really helpful chap, completed the job no problem.

Then noticed last night that the landing light at the top of the stairs which is a couple of feet from the loft hatch, is on and we cant switch it off, there's 2 switches one downstairs the other upstairs.

Called the guy and asked did he think it had anything to do with him and he's obviously said no, but surely its too much of a coincidence....anyone know what I could check before calling out an electrician.....Thank you

DVardysShadow

This sounds to me like cable damage. I would agree that there should be no reason for this job to touch the lighting, therefore I would suspect things like a nail through the cable or the cable being crushed.

I would suggest that you get then loft ladder down and try the light. If it is now OK, then the cable will have been crushed by stowing the ladder. Don't leave it, thinking the problem has gone away, the damaged cable should be replaced. Also, take a look for a nailed crushed or pinched cable. Beware of the nail, which will be live. Again, the cable will need replacing.

fluffpot

Hmmm, not sure if nail in cable would cause this type of fault? More likely to blow the fuse than leave the light permanently on.?

Maybe he had to move some of the cables in order to fit the ladder and so rewired at the light but not correctly. An electrician will be able to tell you if it's been fiddled with, so I think you've got no choice but to get one in.

vax2002

I would suggest you DONT touch the METAL loft ladder and get an electrician with a torch and the power off to investigate

muckybutt

fluffpot wrote: »

Hmmm, not sure if nail in cable would cause this type of fault? More likely to blow the fuse than leave the light permanently on.?
QUOTE]

It wont blow a fuse if theres no earth in the cable as a lot of old 1mm and 1.5mm had no earth, ive seen it done with capping nails and screws on wall lights too and they were earthed !

diable

Disconnect the switch to see if the light goes out.

deano72_2

like someone said before.hes ethier trapped a cabble,moved a cable & reconected it wrong.when you switch the switches do they feel normal if you know what i mean as in smooth & positive,it might be a duff switch which is unlikely but not totaly out the Q.
think my £ would be on hes moved a cable & reconected it wrong