why arent my exterior porch lights working?

okay, yes paint on the copper will prevent conduction. If you don't have wire strippers you can use sandpaper to clean them or even a razor knife can scrape it clean and shiny.

While your doing that, use your tester to confirm you have voltage at the box behind the light when the switch it on. Then perhaps test continuity on the isolated light fixture wires to see if your bulb is good.

Did you use long screws on the paneling? You have to ensure that you don't drive more than 1 1/4" into a stud. So adding sheathing and paneling you needed to limit your screws to 2 inches. Even then, if the electrician did shoddy work and the wire was in a bad location, you may have screwed into it with shorter screws...

If you don't get voltage at the box behind the light, first test to make sure the switch is good. Then turn it off and isolate your wire going to the light so you can test continuity between the wires, and if you can reach, continuity on each conductor from one end to the other.

Fortunately it shouldn't be too hard to replace a bad wire in that situation. Don't worry. Good luck.

James, it could a couple things. Since the light is exterior, it may be on a GFCI circuit. You could have a GFCI tripped somewhere. Check in the bathrooms, kitchen, garage and exterior outlets for a tripped GFCI. Is the switch old? It could be bad. Is the switch wired correctly? Did you check the neutal (or white) wire nut to make sure you have a good connection there. It's also possible the fixture itself is bad.

Do you have current tester?

That would tell you if current is interrupted between the wall switch and the socket.

Paint could interfere. Clean all ends or make fresh cuts. Flip breaker off and back on before you

proceed with anything.Did you reconnect the ground wire to the electrical boxes?

there's slightly spring interior the backside of the lamp socket. After years of bulbs being overtightened the spring loses it is rigidity. you will be waiting to tug spring out slightly the place it makes touch on bulb back. or you're able to could replace socket. The spring is the flat piece of metallic interior the middle. do no longer pull it out too far or it is going to break off. Oh,be sure swap is off.

They don't necessarily all go B-B W-W, especially when a switch is involved. Start tracing them.