Im trying to fit some new celing lights in my lounge but it appears the wiring isn't just a case of adding the brown, green/yellow and blue wires to there corresponding place - I have (I think) what is called a Loop Wiring system in place so I have 2 black wires, 3 grey wires and some others wrapped in red tape. Should I just call an electrician or is this simpler than it looks?
2006-12-26 23:55:01 · 11 answers · asked by Mr G 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Best to call an electrician, however, if you have a go at it yourself make sure the power is off at al times and nobody else can flick it on while you are messing.
I would say that the bunch of wires taped up sound like earth wires on a loop. Your light fitting inself can be earthed if it is metal, ie a small screw will be on the fitting somewhere to allow attachment the earth if it is a metal.
If you are fitting a plastic fitting, the taped up (earth) wires can be fixed to the thing or not. Just leave them taped up as long as they can't touch any other wires.
Now the other two bunched of wires need to go to each side of the light fitting as live and neutral. It is fiddley and awkward, all the wires need to be used, for the loop into the next room.
Should you group them up the wrong way round, you might find that the lightswitch is 'down' when it should be up, so instead of re-wiring the light fitting again, turn the lightswitch round the other way, so it appears to be right!
Make sure the wires are all in tight and not likely to pull out! Loose wires can get hot.
Make suere you use the right bulbs too, ie not a 100 watt bulb in a fitting designed for a 60 watt max.
If you are fitting a fan, it will need to be earthed.
If you are in doubt call a professional, if you do something wrong it will trip your breakers.
Dont start a job like this too late in the day, as it will get too dark to work!
The 3 grey wires go on one side and the two black on the other! One of the blacks and one of the greys go to your lightswitch(have a look u will see them) the greys are live, might be red inside the grey sleeving too. Two of the wires go off into the next room and this is the loop, it will be one black and one grey!
2006-12-27 00:05:11 · answer #1 · answered by My name's MUD 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
First of all, ignore all that was written by the idiot called My Names Mud and especially DSM Handyman. This is britain.
What you have is two blacks onto one side of the new light fitting terminals and the three grey wires to the other terminal, the bunch in the red tape should be in a strip connector below the tape, if not then put them into a block connector and re-tape them and just push them to the side when fitting the light.
If there is a green or green and yellow earth wire at the ceiling then connect it to the earth connection on the new light, if there is no earth wire present and there is a metal conduit box mounted in the ceiling where the wires are coming out of, then you will need to attach an earthwire from the back of the conduit box to the light fitting, there will be a threaded hole in the box to take a machine screw, if your old light fitting was attatched to a conduit box then use one of these screws to attach a short piece of 2.5mm earth wire. Best of luck.
2006-12-27 08:27:41 · answer #2 · answered by Sparky 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
just to sidetrack to the last answer - language is partly a barrier but yes the system over here is very different. Almost all domestic houses - those linked to the national grid - have only one voltage-240v coming out of their walls. The earlier reference to low WATTAGE lighting was speaking of the strength of light bulb to be used in said fitting when finished.
To original asker - don't mess with anything without shutting off the supply by the meter, if even slightly unsure pay a sparky for the afternoon - cheaper than fire damage costs and increased insurance premiums!
2006-12-27 18:13:10 · answer #3 · answered by jomarie357 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After reading the answers and going to one site referred to in an answer, I am shocked (pun intended.) The difference in terminology between England and the US is a problem. Also, I can't believe the specifications are so different between the two countries.
Is is just a difference in language, or is the information given that far wrong? I don't know, but it is a little scarry.
One thing that no one cautioned you about is that amateur electricians sometimes do whatever works without regard to safe practices. I have seen multiple installations with the wires reversed. The importance of that is that you can NOT depend on turning off switches and/or breakers.
You MUST measure the voltage with the lights on and then with the breaker turned off and the light switch turned on. The first is simply a reference point to make sure you are measuring correctly. The second is to make sure you turned off the correct breaker.
The standard is for white to be ground or neutral or earth, depending on your termanology. Black or red are hot. Green, if present, is also ground/neutral/earth, but is there for additional safety. I have seen the black and white revered, making the white wire dangerous.
I have also seen the white wire switched, instead of the black. In that case, there is full voltage from the light to a water pipe, or other ground, even with the switch off.
The reason for this information is to say that if you are not 100% sure of yourself, you should not be working with electric wires. 115 volt electricity, aka 110 volt, 117 volt, 120 volt, etc. kills more people than any other voltage. This is because it is more previlent, rather than because it is actually more deadly, but the important thing is that it is potentially fatal.
In this case, the multiple colored wires make me think it might be a low voltage system, but you need to know before you work on it. In the US, it is pretty much unheard of to light a room with low voltage, so I'm puzzled. Low voltage circuits are done much differently than 115 volt circuits.
2006-12-27 13:01:59 · answer #4 · answered by DSM Handyman 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Look, always call a fully qualified electrician if you are not sure or if you don't know what you are doing. Don't mess with electricity - it can kill. You could also be having a house-warming party sooner than you think - fire brigade invited!
2006-12-28 08:46:38 · answer #5 · answered by Sandee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Georgio,
Your answers are correct, espescially from Munn, so all I add is, although I don't mind a 240V belt now & then, a 33kV touch is something to behold, apparantley.
I was thankfully unconcious. Smouldering.
Take care, and happy new electrics.
Bob
2006-12-30 09:54:05 · answer #6 · answered by Bob the Boat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well since you don't know how to do it [neither do i] i would call a qualified electrician
2006-12-27 08:04:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't know what you're doing, get an electrician in.
It saves on Funeral bills.
2006-12-27 08:09:02 · answer #8 · answered by efes_haze 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
call an electrician
2006-12-27 08:03:44 · answer #9 · answered by .......... 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a Sparks mate, its not easy to explain.
2006-12-27 07:58:24 · answer #10 · answered by Max 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋