I took the old light off my ceiling to replace with a new one, thinking there would be 3 simple wires. I didn't bank on there being 5! there is one 3-wire cable with Earth, Live(Red) and Neutral(Black) and another 2-wire cable with a black and red, on the black wire there has been a red sheath placed on it.
The new lamp only has the normal 3 wire in a block, where should I place each cable?
Help please!!!
2006-10-05 05:40:08 · 12 answers · asked by Dave L 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Lighting circuits in the UK are wired in the loop live system, sometimes called the loop-in system
Don't mess with it unless you know what you are doing!
See the link below
2006-10-05 05:56:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's what you have.
1- Did you notice which wires were connected to the old fixture?
2- If you connect the neutral, try to keep that to the neutral of the lamp.
3- It sounds as if you have a tester of some sort. The neutral of the lamp should be connected to the threaded part of the lamp socket.
4- You didn't mention if there is a wall switch involved.
5- If there is and you won't be using a pull chain to turn the light on and off, then the hot wire should go to that switch.
6- The return wire from the switch would go the the lamp hot leg.
The power (hot line) should show up on the center contact where you screw in the bulb.
7- If you are using a pull chain on the fixture then those 2 extra wires wouldn't be used.
The colors you gave sounds like you are not in the US.
Electricity still works the same regardless of the color of the wires. Hot is Hot (live), Neutral is Neutral (return) and ground should go to the metal box or the metal housing of the fixture itself.
8- If those two extra wires go to a switch, send the power out on one leg and when it comes back from the switch, it goes to the power side of the lamp (connect the hot to one of the switch wires) instead of directly to the lamp.
Good Luck and be careful by checking each step and only turn on the power after each step is done.
2006-10-05 13:53:49 · answer #2 · answered by norman8012003 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even if it has a 3 way switch, Why would you pull all the wires loose? The old light only had 3 wires too, Black, White and Green, connect the new light up the same way before you cross the wires and really have fun getting it back right
2006-10-05 20:07:00 · answer #3 · answered by myothernewname 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Isolate the ligthing circuit at the fusebox. If you don't know how - call an electrician, or you could kill yourself.
Put the red ones in one terminal, black ones in another and the earth in the earth terminal.
The three wire cable is from the power circuit, and the two wire cable goes to the light switch.
2006-10-05 12:52:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The two reds that are joined together stay together but do not go to the light fitting terminals, they should go into a connector alone. The other two wires you have left are black-to blue/N in fitting, and sleeved red - to brown/L in fitting. The two earth wires stay together and connect to the earth terminal if it's a metal light, or are terminated and tucked inside the light if it is a class II fitting.
Ignore the instructions above! Only Mike S is right, it's a loop in system.
2006-10-05 12:58:42 · answer #5 · answered by jayktee96 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your question is totally confusing.. You said five wire yet you state one wire has three...another has two and a black wire that makes a total of 6 and is also confusing..a black wire thathas a red coating.. I have never heard of this.. At any rate..
your new lamp has three.. probablyone white, one black and one ground.. SO.. from the wires coming out of the original box.. lump all the black wires together and attach them to the black wire of the new lamp fixture and all the whites from the wall to the white of the new lamp and the ground to the ground... I have done this many many many times but your description is very confusing
2006-10-05 13:35:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming that the new light fitting has the new colour code, green/yellow to earth, blue to neutral (black), brown to switched live (black with red sleeving), make sure the supply is turned off at the mains before you attempt to work on it. By the way it's not illegal to change a light fitting, as long as you are competent.
Hope this of help.
2006-10-05 12:55:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a parallel circuit so the light can be turned on and off from 2 different locations. Use wire nut (cap) and put all like colors together.
Be sure circuit breaker to that fixture is off before you begin.
2006-10-05 12:46:49 · answer #8 · answered by reynwater 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would call the electrition I would guess you have more then one switch to the light. Its not worth getting zapped or burning down the place.
2006-10-05 12:58:15 · answer #9 · answered by firebirdstevev 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's illegal to mess with it unqualified, so just get an electrician and survive the experience.
2006-10-05 12:55:05 · answer #10 · answered by ALAN Q 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋