the old system i think is a rose type and the new light i'm putting is uses a 3 way terminal block. i can't figure out how to arrange the wires. i'v found the permanent live and thats about it. i need help and advise??
2007-02-25 07:33:43 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
If you are not sure with what you are doing get an electrician. It's not worth burning down your house.
All electricity works on a loop system so that was a pretty good assumption
the colors have absolutely no meaning to you and i DONT MEAN THAT SARCASTICALLY. White or gray should be neutrals, but it all depends on who was last in the box. any other color by code could could be anything else, unless of course it is green and then that all depends again on who else has had their hands in the box.
Oh, and just because a neutral has to be either White, gray, or marked with white or gray, that dosen't mean that it has to be a neutral. Confused? good! That's why it is important to get an electrician. Improper wiring dosen't just cause fires, it kills, without mercy.
2007-02-25 09:34:24 · answer #1 · answered by J B 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You have a standard wiring method called 'Loop in' One cable is a supply from the mains or the previous light, another is a loop feed and neutral to the next light, and the third is a feed and switch wire to the switch for this light outlet. Three reds should be joined with a connector. The first two blacks should be joined to the blue to the light. The black of the third cable should be marked at both ends with a red/brown sleeve or tape and connect to the brown of the light. ALL earths connect together.
If you have separated the cables you will have to identify which is which or you will create a short circuit if you choose the wrong pair for the switch. You will need an additional connector for the three reds ONLY, nothing else connects to them!
2007-02-25 18:29:45 · answer #2 · answered by jayktee96 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Connect all your reds together in one of the terminal blocks. (Call it block 1). It's usually the one with three screws in it if you have a conventional rose.
One red and one black wire will be from the switch.
Identify the black which comes from the switch. You may have to use a meter or a battery/bulb setup to do this.
IMPORTANT If you cannot clearly and unambiguously identify the switch black then you must not guess, give up now and get an electrician.
Connect the remaining two blacks together in another one of the terminal blocks. (call it Block 2)
Connect the red (or brown) lead from your light to the same terminal block as your reds. (block 1)
Connect the other lead (black or blue) from your light to the UNUSED terminal block. (block 3)
Connect the black wire which comes from your switch to Block 3.
Job done.
Before you do any work isolate the supply at your fuse box/consumer unit.
2007-02-27 15:00:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Difficult to advise correctly (and safely) but I am guessing you have a lighting circuit (two each of the red and black cables) and the third red and black are going to the switch, which means they are both actually carrying the live current.
With these wires exposed, are any other lights in the house not working?
2007-02-25 15:50:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
One red & black will be (as you say) the live in. A second red and black will be going to the next light. The third pair will go to the switch and would normaly be twin red, but in some older installations a red and black is used. Mark the black cable with red (or brown) tape, Connect all the reds together, and the cable you have identifitd with tape to the live supply to the light fitting!
2007-02-25 15:49:50 · answer #5 · answered by Phil H 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You need to find your switched live (don't connect to the permanent live). The switched live (red) and neutral (black) go to your light. The remaining permanent live, other red (+) and neutrals (black) go to other lighting circuits on the same floor. Hope this helps but if unsure get an electrician in.
2007-02-28 16:46:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Old colours are
Red - Live
Black Neutral
New colours are
Brown - Live
Blue - Neutral
Make sure live wires are connected together and likewise the Neutral.
Should be an earth already in the rose fitting, so connect yellow/green wire to that.
2007-02-25 15:43:40 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
sparky is advisable as one of those blacks may be the switchwire/switched live and not a neutral as the colour suggests.if u have a tester and a bit of nous u could prob suss it out tho!!
2007-02-25 15:45:58 · answer #8 · answered by toolbox 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You will have a power in cable a live switch cable and power to the next ceiling rose,If you are in doubt look up www.dydata.com and click on electrics.
2007-02-25 17:19:38 · answer #9 · answered by taxed till i die,and then some. 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sorry mate but you are working against the law. Its a fairly new one brought in recently to stop idiots playing with what is potentiall life threatening! If you don't know what you are doing GET IN SOMEONE WHO DOES!!!
2007-03-01 04:03:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋