i am replacing a mains light with a halogen mains light. there is olly a single switch for this light, and there is no dimmer.
the wire block coming from the ceiling has 4 sections to attach the wire into. from left to right, the wires going into this block are: green/yellow, black, red, black. the red section of the block already has another red wire coming out of the other side, so fitting to that is not an option.
the wires i have on the halogen light are blue and brown. could somebody give me an idea of which part of the wire block to attach these to?
many thanks in advance.
2006-10-05 05:09:42 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
thanks for all your replies - its intresting how there are so many options!!! as it stands, i got it sorted, and the light still doesnt work. i can only assume there is a fault somewhere else, not with the light i have just replaced. doh.
2006-10-05 06:34:22 · update #1
Don't be confused by other answers about ring mains, I think what you are talking about is a mains voltage lighting circuit. What you describe sounds like a ceiling rose with 4 terminals - 1 earth (green/yellow, 2 neutral (black), 3 permanent live (red) & 4 switched live (single black, sometimes with red sleeving to indicate live wire). At the moment the flex of your pendant will go to terminals 2 & 4, these giving you a switched supply to the lamp, it is these terminals you need to connect to for your mains halogen fitting, using a 4 way joint box above the ceiling.
Hope this is helpful.
P.S. it's not illegal to change light fittings, but only if you add extra lighting points to existing circuits in special locations.
2006-10-05 05:39:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK,so the other answer about "ring mains" is wrong.
You are talking about lighting circuits, yes ?
The 4 wires are:
Green Earth,
Black neutral
Red live
Black switched live
Unfortuately you cannot tell which of the blacks in the neutral or switched live, and if you get them wrong they go pop.
The BLUE on the lamp goes to one of the blacks in your circuit. Look for other blacks that are commoned to this one. This is your NEUTRAL. Often its easier to find the switche dlive first, try one of the 4 methods below
Now you need to figure out which black to connect the BROWN to, this will be your siwtched live.
You are probably removing an old light fitting. This should have a BROWN and BLUE also. You need to find out which black this BROWN is connected to and go with that.
Otherwise, you'll need a meter or test lamps to measure each black while you flick the switch. Put the meter across the green and black, one black at a time. The one that switches on and off with the switch is the one to connect your blue in the lamp to
Sometimes, helpful people will put a red or brown ring around the switched live black so you know which one it is.
Also, the switched live is the black that will come back from the light switch, so if you know which cable that is you have found your switched live
2006-10-05 05:25:03 · answer #2 · answered by Michael H 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Add up the wattage of all of the devices you are planning to install, add like 30% for 'just in case', then ask the electrical guy you buy your parts from & let him tell you. Now: Like you said, the installation is going to be kind of tough, so you DO NOT want to have to do it again in a year. SO - Figure-out the wire size, then route TWO power circuits to the garage. And, if there is a single point where the installation is the toughest, like thru a wall or under a sidewalk, put in two separate conduits, again, just in case....
2016-03-27 05:56:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a electrician and its sound like its been wired wrong the cable to the switch should be twin red not red and black. brown goes to red and blue goes to black however like i said its wired wrong. it sounds like u have got red and black to the switch in that case you need to establish which colour cable is on the return side of the switch it sounds like its black seeing you have 2 reds together.which ever black is the return that is connected to brown and the blue to the other black,BUT THIS GOING OF YOUR INSTRUCTIONS AND WITHOUT BEING THERE I REALLY DONT THINK YOU SHOULD TRY
2006-10-05 05:45:54 · answer #4 · answered by JERSEY 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I bet that lot has really confused you! Mostly incorrect and misguided. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing!! I suggest you leave it, and get a professional in, as its very difficult to advise you from your description and the fact the existing connections could have been carried out in so many different ways.
2006-10-05 06:18:40 · answer #5 · answered by jayktee96 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're totally lost about wiring, please have an electrician do it. A loose wire will heat up and/or short out...and this is how fires start.
Hint: you should only need 2 wires to hook up a light (or 2 wires plus the bare Ground wire)
2006-10-05 05:17:50 · answer #6 · answered by Funchy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You must be mad to try and sort this yourself by asking on here, it full on nutters givng stupid advice.
Make sure you're standing in a bucket of water when you try it!
2006-10-05 05:20:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are in the UK I think there is new legislation prohibiting you from doing so - only a qualified sparky can do it.
2006-10-05 05:13:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
moletrap is right,
Jayktee96 is also right.
but the winner is:------- (long pause in a reality show / x factor fashion)
PJ
2006-10-05 07:11:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
best bet is to get a qualified electrician. it would be safest.
2006-10-05 05:11:33 · answer #10 · answered by pj 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋