You didn't actual say this, but it sounds like none of the lights are now working (or at least they never come on)?

There are simple circuit detectors that just sense power in the wire; however, if you don't have power for the lights this will not work.

Most of the other wire detectors that beep are designed so that you have to put a signal on one part of the wire and then detect the signal on the rest of the wire. If you use one that generates enough signal you may be able to trace the wires through the walls, but I've never actually tried that. However, some of the detectors are designed to troubleshoot underground wiring, so I assume they put out a fairly significant signal. When I was troubleshooting my sprinkler system i considered renting a wire detector, and they were available at the SunBelt rental that was adjacent to a Lowes.

Bruce

You are correct Bruce, none of the lights were/are currently working. I'll rent a wire detector then, and start there?

My thanks for the comment.

Paul

I agree with Kudzu... Start at the circuit breaker panel and look for a smaller box nearby that might be the transformer.

There are two kind of wire tracers out there. The more inexpesive variety clip on the wire and if you get the sensor within a few inches of the wire you can hear it. These are typically sold as phone wire tracers (or circuit breaker finders).

The other has a greater range for the sensor and are much more expensive. Fortunately, my local rental place has them for a reasonable half day price (it typically only takes an hour to find what you're after).

> Have you looked for a transformer somewhere that would power these low wattage bulbs?

Why would there be a transformer for a 4 watt bulb?

You guys are great. I was hoping a tone generator could emit a sound that is discernible and easily located (relatively). Wouldn't all of these wires terminate somewhere? Into a box of some nature? I've checked four or five fuse boxes (to complicate the matter, we have tons of landscape lighting) and all are very well marked. Can't locate one for these darn lights. So, should I rent a tone generator and try that first?

What is it called exactly ?

My thanks

Paul

dennisgli-
I suggested looking for a transformer because it's a possibility: the OP has not been able to find the wires, and using a transformer would have simplified installation of night lights. On the other hand, these could be regular voltage. If the OP knows these are 4W bulbs, hopefully the bulb also lists the operating voltage and then we would know whether a transformer is involved or not.

BurtCollection-
Ron Natalie's suggestion to rent a good quality one is pertinent for your situation because you could have more-complex-than-normal wire runs that require a tone generator with the highest range. I used a $25 tone generator that successfully found burglar alarm wiring runs buried in my walls, but that was only because they were very close to the backside of the sheetrock. Aside from that, my concern for you is that someone may have cut the wires and terminated the connection within the walls at some previous time and it may not be obvious where this occurred. Anyway, good luck, and please let us know what you find.

This would be much more interesting with pictures ;D

> So, should I rent a tone generator and
try that first?

> What is it called exactly ?

Here's an example - Amprobe AT-7020 Advanced Wire Tracer Kit .

> Wouldn't all of these wires terminate somewhere? Into a box of some
nature? I've checked four or five fuse boxes (to complicate the matter,
we have tons of landscape lighting) and all are very well marked.

There seems to a lot of assumptions flying around here. Are you saying that all 24 lights are wired to the same circuit - how do you know that? They could be just wired to another circuit in each room. Or even wired in parallel with the light switch so they would only come on when the regular lights were off - who knows.

How did you "check" the fuse boxes - did you open them up to look for wires that were disconnected? Did you remove the night lights and check to see if the wiring was still connected to them? Somebody may have just disconnected them somewhere to save electricity.

The switch box for the room the light is in would be the first place I would look for an "extra" wire.

Good luck this one would probably take an experienced Electrician a little time to figure out, for an amateur looking for answers online it may be impossible. I know you don't want to call an electrician but it may be your best bet before you end up messing up something else in the meantime. This is a very large house and you may need an expert to come out and take a look.

4 watt bulb, Hmmm. What is the voltage of these bulbs? 120 V or maybe a low voltage such as 18 or 24 V. If these are low voltage bulbs, there will be a transformer somewhere that converts 120 v to a lower voltage for these lamps. The transformer must be sized to supply enough wattage for all the lamps. You say there are 24 lamps at 4 watts each; That is 96 watts for all 24 lamps.

The usual house wiring includes a transformer that powers the door bells and thermostat for the furnace. You may find two or more transformers: one for the thermostat and door bells plus one or more for the axillary lamps. The usual location for such transformers is in the basement near a conduit junction box. The transformer may be mounted on a junction box.

The transformer is powered from one of the house circuits that is connected to a circuit breaker in the breaker box. You said this is an old house built in 1908 and likely electrified at a later date, therefore you may have fuses instead of breakers.

So, what do you have: 120 V or low voltage bulbs?