a simple job (changing a celling light) that wasn't so simple (for me)

markblack · July 2019

I've pretty much decided I've reached the end of my limited knowledge and need an electrician...

But I'm still curious to see how this work.

I took down a ceiling light, forgot to take a picture of how it was wired and messed it up, I now have three rooms without light's

When I took it down there were four cables running into the rose.

What I have is:
A neutral wire (marked with tape) so I assume that's the switch cable.
5 red wires (two if these goes to the switch)
3 neutral wires
5 earth wires

Unless someone on here can tell me it's a simple job, like a said I'll get an electrician in. But again as I said I'm just curios to know how it all works.

Any suggestions much appreciated.

Many thanks

Mark

rossyamaha · July 2019

I did the same thing. It’s on a loop. Get a sparky in.

Funkfingers · July 2019

Have you got a switching system in which, say, the hallway light can be switched at either end of the hall? Those tend to complicate matters.

boogieman · July 2019

What you have is called three plate wiring , there’s plenty of advice and wiring diagrams available if you google it.

Basically you put all the lives (red wires ) together into one terminal of the rose. The unmarked neutrals (black wires) go together into another. The marked neutral, which you’ve correctly said is your switch wire, goes into a third, on its own. All the earths go together into another. Your lamp holder is then fed from the neutrals and the switch wire. It’s not a difficult job.

spark240 · July 2019

What room is it in....and did that light switch on its own or was another switches with it.....

No need to pay a Spark....we can work this out.

Are you sure 2 reds go to the switch?....and are those 2 reds inside one grey cable?

spark240 · July 2019

boogieman said:

What you have is called three plate wiring , there’s plenty of advice and wiring diagrams available if you google it.

Basically you put all the lives (red wires ) together into one terminal of the rose. The unmarked neutrals (black wires) go together into another. The marked neutral, which you’ve correctly said is your switch wire, goes into a third, on its own. All the earths go together into another. Your lamp holder is then fed from the neutrals and the switch wire. It’s not a difficult job.

Im not convinced the taped Black is the switch wire...hes said he's got 2 reds going to the switch which suggests a twin red as live and switch wire, plus he's got more reds than blacks,

boogieman · July 2019

It does sound odd. I can’t figure out why there’s four cables going in but there are five reds and earths.

markblack · July 2019

Cheer @spark240 @boogieman @Funkfingers for the advice - maybe this is a bit clearer?

Here's a couple more pics - just a standard switch in the room.

Cheers

Mark

spark240 · July 2019

Ok, so heres what I would do....as Im not sure why that black is marked with tape...

Leave that twin cable out for now ( and see art doesn't work)..

The other 2 red / Black are the L&N in and out, so put the 2 reds in a same terminal, and the 2 backs in the Neutral terminal .

The twin red is your switch as you know, so 1 of this reds goes in with the other 2 ( in spare terminal ) this will send alive down to your switch, the return red ( the switch wire) then goes into the Live terminal i the rose, this will connect to the Brown of your lamp.

Do that first.

Just one light in the room yes ?

markblack · July 2019

@spark240 cheers for that. Yes just a one light in the room.

I'll give it a go.

tony99 · July 2019

I'm not sure how much help but on the middle two pics the wires and things kind of look like a little hermit crab, with his eyes and a couple of little feelers just popping out the sand, checking the coast is clear before he goes about his day.

markblack · July 2019

@spark240 ;;

Tried your suggestion but no joy.

Put all earth wires in one junction box.

Put the two neutral wires in one junction box - the added the neutral of the light fitting to those two.

Put the two live wires into one junction box.

The I linked one of the switch wires to the light. And the other switch wire to the other live wires. (I did this both ways)

No power to the light (or any of the hall lights)

I did the current tester on the wires while I had the power on and the only red wire with power is the one that has the black wire with tape on it as its partner. (pic attached)

I'm sure you've got better things to do with your Sunday than answer my questions so feel free to ignore this!

Cheers

Mark

incase its simpler this is what I have

markblack · July 2019

tony99 said:

I'm not sure how much help but on the middle two pics the wires and things kind of look like a little hermit crab, with his eyes and a couple of little feelers just popping out the sand, checking the coast is clear before he goes about his day.

All sorted now

didn't see the crab, now I've removed him it's like daylight!

spark240 · July 2019

Ok...so out of interest, when its connected as is now...do you have a live cable at the switch?

spark240 · July 2019

spark240 said:

Ok...so out of interest, when its connected as is now...do you have a live cable at the switch?

Forget that....just noticed what you said.

Ok....so ...Im not happy with this but.....put the red you know to be live in with the other 2 in the spare terminal, and put the taped black in with the neutrals....I assume you do you have MCB;s in the fuseboard and not off fusewrie...as this may just ....

markblack · July 2019

@spark240 dropped you a PM. Ta.

Barney · July 2019

It's the black with the tape on that is throwing things a bit ....It could even be just a nicked cable with tape on and is a neutral ...assuming it is that

You would need to put all reds in a connector block ...apart from one of the reds from the switch which is the cable with the 2 reds in

Put all the blacks together a connector on there own

All the earths together on there own

And the red from the switch...the one left on its own in it's own connector

The lampholder put the brown to the single red and the blue to the neutrals..that's the blacks

Its possible the switch might be upside down ...off it is turn the switch the other way on

Simon_M · July 2019

It’s 3 plate wired. Identify the switched live by using a multimeter/test lamps and flicking the light switch off/on. This may be red or black depending who wired it. Connect that to you your light’s live. Connect all remaining black cables together. Connect all reds together. Connect all earths together.

Job’s a good’un.

markblack · July 2019

@Barney @Simon_M @spark240 Cheers lads!

Got it sorted. The wire with the tape on it threw me, most forums say thats how you mark the switch live wire... guess the guy who did mine had other ideas.

As you all said I this is how I got it working.

Cheers

Mark

spark240 · July 2019

Let there be light ....

Paul_C · July 2019

You did better than me on my last attempt - to the best of my knowledge I wired everything up correctly (but as you'll see, clearly not) having (thought I had) noted where everything went, but when I turned the light on it blew everything in the house.

As it was 9pm and I was in the dark I called out an emergency sparky who replaced a huge fuse in the meter box (I didn't even know there was one in there) and wired my light up correctly.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

a simple job (changing a celling light) that wasn't so simple (for me)

Comments