I have underground wire connecting 14 pole lights how do i find a cut wire between the lights?

Question

I have underground wire connecting 14 pole lights how do i find a cut wire between the lights?

Answer 1

use a metal detector and find the wire between the last working light and the first non working light. dig, and check for resistance or power through the circuit. go from the powered side out. i assume these are 12v lights.

Answer 2

Are you talking about low-voltage landscape lighting (as most of the answers seem to indicate), or, are you talking about actual pole lights in a parking area (or something similar)?

It would be helpful to know.

If you are speaking of low-voltage landscape lighting, the conductors are not usually buried very deep; just pull them up & look for the damaged conductor.

If you are referring to actual pole lights; call a licensed electrician. Don't fool around with them; incorrect wiring or grounding can be very dangerous.

Answer 3

You will need a resistance measuring meter and some extra wire. With the electrical power disconnected and the light bulbs removed, try measuring the resistance between the connections inside the sockets when each side is separately connected using the additional wire and meter. That is to say, the positive side of one socket with the negative side of the previous one and then the opposite. When both results give high resistance you know that one of the two connecting wires is broken.

If you cannot identify which side is positive or negative you will have to try all 4 possible combinations and if more than 2 of them are with high resistance then your wire is broken.

Answer 4

There is an electrical tool (pick up at your local hardware store) that tests current/amperage/etc...One of the features is line testing.  If you can find the end that plugs in (whether the wall or electrical panel) undue those ends and tie them together.  Then starting at the first light, test the line with the line tester.  It will beep if the line is good.  If there is a break in the line the tester will remain silent (it can't make the connection).  If the line beeps, put the light back together and move onto the second one in line.  The break will be between the last light that beeps and the one that doesn't.  Hope that helps.

Answer 5

You should be able to determine where the interruption is by continuity testing.  If these are HID or luminares, call a pro.

Answer 6

First I would look for obvious sign of digging or animal holes between the lights. If there are none then you will have to do it by process of elimination, break the circuit test it until you sectionalize it. If you have a ground fault you can use an ohm meter, the closer you are to the fault, the lower the reading. Example, if you are very close it will read 0 or 1 ohm, the farther your from it the higher the reading. 1 ohm is close, 1 kilohm will be out there a ways and a megohm will not be on your property.

Answer 7

Go to the place where the digging took place, turn the power off and start digging there. If they never worked, start at the power source and verify it works. Then move to the nearest pole and inspect it for a loose or broken wire.