Help, simple Live, Negative, Earth wiring conundrum
Discussion
Been given a 2nd hand light fitting (which I love) from a deceased persons estate but it comes with a catch, the 3 wires from the fixing are all identical and I can't tell which is which by looking at them. Unfortunately no note to help with the wiring was made when the fitting was hastily removed from the ceiling.
I don't want to guess at it and plunge the street into darkness so how can i find out without also destroying the fitting at the same time.
I'm not an electrician so any help will need to be simply explained.
Thanks for any help, picture below.
I don't want to guess at it and plunge the street into darkness so how can i find out without also destroying the fitting at the same time.
I'm not an electrician so any help will need to be simply explained.
Thanks for any help, picture below.
EDIT: pics now added.
You can get a multimeter in screwfix for a tenner, use a continuity test to find out which wire is the CPC (earth, connected to the body of the whole fitting (if it's metal) and the other two are your line and neutral.
If it's screw in bulb, use the meter to find which of the other two is connected to the outside shell of the bulb holder, that's the neutral. If it's a bayonet bulb with two terminals on the bottom, I don't think it matters, but I'm open to correction on this; I'd test the cap part and check anyway.
Edited by EireEng on Thursday 27th April 20:26
Damn...the multimeter doesn't read out anything at all when i touch the probes together. It's just dead. There is nowhere to insert batteries so i assume that it functions without them.
Ok, i can get one from a neighbour tomorrow. Then what? How do i discern the 2 remaining wires please?
Ok, i can get one from a neighbour tomorrow. Then what? How do i discern the 2 remaining wires please?
Also not forgetting to check which wire goes to which terminal in one of the sockets (to confirm that's where there go) and checking that the wires aren't connected directly to each other. Doesn't matter which is live and neutral but still worth confirming that each one goes to a different place and that at least two are known to go to the bulb(s) and not to the body of the fitting.
gadgetmac said:
Ok, clearly a rubbish multimeter. So, on the basis that i can find the earth the other 2 are inter-changeable yes?
...prays for "yes" reply...
The other two are interchangeable in terms of function, so it'll work, yes. ...prays for "yes" reply...
Bit of a moot point in this situation, because the wires are likely the same colour throughout the fitting, but if you had coloured wires connected in reverse polarity, it'd work but if someone came along in the future to work on one of the 3 bulb holders and didn't know the polarity was wrong it may cause an issue. The fitting should be isolated before working on it, but you never know.
If they're screw in fittings, put the neutral on the bit of the bulb with the threads and the line on the central terminal; it leaves the line conductor better hidden and out of the way when changing bulbs in the future.
EireEng said:
The other two are interchangeable in terms of function, so it'll work, yes.
Bit of a moot point in this situation, because the wires are likely the same colour throughout the fitting, but if you had coloured wires connected in reverse polarity, it'd work but if someone came along in the future to work on one of the 3 bulb holders and didn't know the polarity was wrong it may cause an issue. The fitting should be isolated before working on it, but you never know.
If they're screw in fittings, put the neutral on the bit of the bulb with the threads and the line on the central terminal; it leaves the line conductor better hidden and out of the way when changing bulbs in the future.
Thank you. Bit of a moot point in this situation, because the wires are likely the same colour throughout the fitting, but if you had coloured wires connected in reverse polarity, it'd work but if someone came along in the future to work on one of the 3 bulb holders and didn't know the polarity was wrong it may cause an issue. The fitting should be isolated before working on it, but you never know.
If they're screw in fittings, put the neutral on the bit of the bulb with the threads and the line on the central terminal; it leaves the line conductor better hidden and out of the way when changing bulbs in the future.
Yes the wires appear to be the same colour throughout the fitting. The bulbs are screw in. I think if ever the fitting needs work doing on it i'll throw it away to save any potential problems.
Here's a manual for your multimeter (or one incredibly like it...)
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/...
9V battery will be inside the case. You'll need to unscrew the back to replace it.
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/...
9V battery will be inside the case. You'll need to unscrew the back to replace it.
Thank you very much and it answers a question for me. It has the same setting that miniman said I need to use on my (rubbish) MM.
Again, thank you.
I'll give this a go tomorrow and hopefully report back that the fitting is now installed and I'm still alive. I'll post a picture.
Cheers all.
Again, thank you.
I'll give this a go tomorrow and hopefully report back that the fitting is now installed and I'm still alive. I'll post a picture.
Cheers all.
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