Quick Electrical Question - I'm stuck!!!

[RossiT]

Hi Guys

I'll admit I'm really hopeless at electrics, trying to replace the light fitting in the spare room. Previously it was just a ceiling rose with the bulb and the Mrs now has this small chanderlier type thing. I've attached 2 pictures below, one from the ceiling and the other is the end of the cable on the chanderlier. (I didn't put the red sleeve on the black cable).

When I put all the reds together in live and blacks in neutral the light works but doesn't switch off?
Any sugguestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[MrV]

The black with the red on it is your switch live not a neutral ,in other words it takes the power to the light when you throw the switch.

[robinhood21]

Blacks together - lives together and the black with the red tape on goes to the live on the light fitting.

ETA: Sorry didn't see your post MrV.

Edited by robinhood21 on Sunday 6th December 15:29

[spikeyhead]

Why do people who are hopeless at this sort of thing try and play with it themselves? It's no wonder that part P was introduced, much to those of us that understood our limitations.

[Plotloss]

spikeyhead said:

Why do people who are hopeless at this sort of thing try and play with it themselves? It's no wonder that part P was introduced, much to those of us that understood our limitations.

Part P doesnt stop people changing light fittings...

[RossiT]

spikeyhead said:

Why do people who are hopeless at this sort of thing try and play with it themselves? It's no wonder that part P was introduced, much to those of us that understood our limitations.

I agree partly but I'm asking for advice not just diving in.

Anyway.......thanks for the replies above, unfortunately I did what was said but the dam light just stays on doesn't matter if the switch is on or off.

Edited by RossiT on Sunday 6th December 16:12

[Darranu]

spikeyhead said:

Why do people who are hopeless at this sort of thing try and play with it themselves? It's no wonder that part P was introduced, much to those of us that understood our limitations.

Why is there's always someone waiting on here with a put down.
If someone want's to have a go at changing a light fitting thus saving themselves getting there leg lifted whats the problem, especially as the OP has had the sense to ask questions when he's stuck.

Now you can argue that it's unsafe etc but thats upto the individual to make up his own mind it he feels he can carry out the task in a safe manner ie isolating supply

And yes I am time served before someone comes along with another negative comment

Good luck OP hope it keeps the missus off your back for a while

Edited by Darranu on Sunday 6th December 16:02

Edited by Darranu on Sunday 6th December 16:04

[dilbert]

You need to reconnect the rose, as it was, but in the ceiling void.
Then you can connect the new light where the old pendant was connected into the rose.
If you can't do that, get someone in who can.

Edited by dilbert on Sunday 6th December 16:06

[jhfozzy]

RossiT said:

spikeyhead said:

Why do people who are hopeless at this sort of thing try and play with it themselves? It's no wonder that part P was introduced, much to those of us that understood our limitations.

I agree a partly but I'm asking for advice not just diving in.

Anyway.......thanks for the replies above, unfortunately I did what was said but the dam light just stays on doesn't matter if the switch is on or off.

The above answer was right, it just wasn't clear.

The two blacks go into the neutral side of the lamps chock block.

The three reds (one red in, one red to the next lamp and one that goes down to the switch) have to go together in a seperate insulated chock block. (the rose would have had a space for this)

The yellow / green obviously goes to the earth.

The black with the red sleeve (live coming back from the switch) goes to the live on the lamps chock block.

John.

Edited by jhfozzy on Sunday 6th December 16:11

Edited by jhfozzy on Sunday 6th December 16:11

[Simpo Two]

spikeyhead said:

Why do people who are hopeless at this sort of thing try and play with it themselves? It's no wonder that part P was introduced, much to those of us that understood our limitations.

They will play with it regardless of how many regulations are printed - ring mains were around long before 'Part P'.

I too faced a ring main years ago when I was naively expecting two wires and thought 'WTF?' - but ATEOTD it's only logic.

It would be more useful to provide instructions, not rules.

[Engineer1]

The simple rule with lights is don't take the old one down till you have the new one, and then only unwire it when you have had chance to look over the wireing, then piut your new one up like for like with the old one.

[Busamav]

Engineer1 said:

The simple rule with lights is don't take the old one down till you have the new one, and then only unwire it when you have had chance to look over the wireing, then piut your new one up like for like with the old one.

I even photograph the old switch and rose now

[Simpo Two]

Engineer1 said:

The simple rule with lights is don't take the old one down till you have the new one, and then only unwire it when you have had chance to look over the wireing, then piut your new one up like for like with the old one.

Absolutely. My sketches of the wiring in the back of my CH programmer look like two armies of spiders had a fight! But I realised my knowledge of CH systems was zero and called in help - I'd never have figured it out on my own.

[Tuna]

Darranu said:

spikeyhead said:

Why do people who are hopeless at this sort of thing try and play with it themselves? It's no wonder that part P was introduced, much to those of us that understood our limitations.

Why is there's always someone waiting on here with a put down.
If someone want's to have a go at changing a light fitting thus saving themselves getting there leg lifted whats the problem, especially as the OP has had the sense to ask questions when he's stuck.

Perhaps because you really shouldn't mess around with wiring if you don't know what you're doing? I've seen people do everything from making the radiators in their house live, to blowing fuses and starting fires. Never mind the odd belt from the cables themselves. Doing it wrong can potentially be very destructive and even lethal.

Think about it. The OP takes down a light fitting and is confronted with, what, eight wires? The light fitting is designed to take three at most. At that point, it would make sense to stop and ask someone what to do next. Instead, they just plunge on and connect a bunch of wires together and hope it's right.

I'm all for trying to save some cash and the trouble of having someone in, but if you don't know what you're doing perhaps at least asking first would be safer?

[monthefish]

It's also a good idea not to assume red is live etc. I changed a light fitting a few years ago and, after removing the old one, couldn't work out what was what after getting some strage readings on the multimeter. Got my mate (a professional sparky) to have a look, and he concluded that the reason it wasn't making sense was that random colour wires had been used.

[rsv gone!]