hi my lights downstairs are not working and the switch has not tripped i am getting 240volts either side of the switch when switched on my house alarm is also partof this circuit my house is only 8 years old does anybody have any ideas please looked for gfci but cant find any will my house have one its a george wimpy house and if so where will it be many thanks graham

graham, January 2010

a big thanks guys got a sparkie out told him the problem was only in for about half an hour found loose connection at the first light out from the fuse box. Bad neutral many thanks

graham, January 2010

Your GFCI (US Canada) or RCD will be on the distribution board and be somewhat bigger than the other breakers - it will not have tripped and has no bearing on the fault you have - if it had tripped then everything in the house would be off.

The most probable cause of the condition you have is a break in the neutral line - i.e. power is getting to the switches, and even to the light bulbs when the switch is on, but there is no return path and no current flows.

An electrician will be able to find the break and repair it very quickly based on what you describe.

Good luck...Take care...

Peccavi, January 2010