PH Sparkies - help!! (Wiring in a new ceiling light)
Discussion
Hey, I'm a committed 12v car electrics lover - I can work my way round most systems, but household electrics have always appeared to be black magic to me!
My ceiling light is full on poverty spec, so I'm going to tart up the room by buying a multi-way spot light. Now, the last time I looked at ceiling wiring I got a shock, not an electric one though, but it was in a room with two lights and two switches, so there were eleventy billion wires going to the roof. In the room I'm intending to put a light in, it seems a bit more straight forward - one light, one switch, 3 wires. Done.
Although like everything, it isn't. The wiring in my house is pretty old, I would assume probably 30-40 years old easily, and although the distribution board has been fitted with RCD's, the wiring running through the roof is still whatever was put up there when the house was built.
Everything I've read online says you have 2x red, 2x black and 2x green. I don't - I have 1x red, 1x black and 1x bare copper (assuming this is the earth).
I haven't pulled the top of the rose off yet, just the base cover - but it seems that all I have to do with my new light (which I am going to purchase tomorrow) is take the three wires that are currently going down to the lamp out of the choc block, connect the live, neutral and earth terminals from the new light to where the three wires were connected, and that it should work from there. Am I right or am I destined to relentlessly test the circuit breakers?
A pic of what is currently up there is below...
(click for bigger)
I also need to wire a new switch in, but that shouldn't be too bad as I've done that before. Just what lurks above the ceiling creeps me out!!!
Cheers in advance
My ceiling light is full on poverty spec, so I'm going to tart up the room by buying a multi-way spot light. Now, the last time I looked at ceiling wiring I got a shock, not an electric one though, but it was in a room with two lights and two switches, so there were eleventy billion wires going to the roof. In the room I'm intending to put a light in, it seems a bit more straight forward - one light, one switch, 3 wires. Done.
Although like everything, it isn't. The wiring in my house is pretty old, I would assume probably 30-40 years old easily, and although the distribution board has been fitted with RCD's, the wiring running through the roof is still whatever was put up there when the house was built.
Everything I've read online says you have 2x red, 2x black and 2x green. I don't - I have 1x red, 1x black and 1x bare copper (assuming this is the earth).
I haven't pulled the top of the rose off yet, just the base cover - but it seems that all I have to do with my new light (which I am going to purchase tomorrow) is take the three wires that are currently going down to the lamp out of the choc block, connect the live, neutral and earth terminals from the new light to where the three wires were connected, and that it should work from there. Am I right or am I destined to relentlessly test the circuit breakers?
A pic of what is currently up there is below...
(click for bigger)
I also need to wire a new switch in, but that shouldn't be too bad as I've done that before. Just what lurks above the ceiling creeps me out!!!
Cheers in advance
Yes its as easy as that on this occasion.
You'll more than likely have a big joint box for your lighting up in that attic somewhere, unless your neutrals are connected at the light switches ( this will probably not interest you or concern you )
Best thing to do with the earth ( the bare copper wire in between red & black) is pop a bit of earth sleeving on it to insulate it. Or if you want to be really rough you can put PVC tape round it
You can pick small bits up at BnQ wickes etc.
Job done!
You'll more than likely have a big joint box for your lighting up in that attic somewhere, unless your neutrals are connected at the light switches ( this will probably not interest you or concern you )
Best thing to do with the earth ( the bare copper wire in between red & black) is pop a bit of earth sleeving on it to insulate it. Or if you want to be really rough you can put PVC tape round it
You can pick small bits up at BnQ wickes etc.
Job done!
Excellent, one trip to Ikea tomorrow then! I was going to ask about sleeving the copper wire - you lot read my mind! I'm bound to have some sleeving somewhere. Would heatshrink tubing do as a semi-bodge? (I'm not going to use insulation tape, even though I have reels and reels of the stuff lying round!)
hi, yes i suppose will be ok, better than having no sleeving. Your new fitting will have the connections marked on it, it will be in brown(live) blue(neutral) and green/yellow(earth).
Red and black cable colours have now been replaced with brown and blue after an update of regulations.
Red (old)=Brown(new) - live
Black(old)= Blue(new) - Neutral .
Green and yellow stays as earth.
Red and black cable colours have now been replaced with brown and blue after an update of regulations.
Red (old)=Brown(new) - live
Black(old)= Blue(new) - Neutral .
Green and yellow stays as earth.
Edited by Raverbaby on Friday 26th February 13:54
To change to box for the light switch turn off the mains or pull the white fuses out of the fuse box (Turn the light on and pull a whitefuse until it goes off) ,the cable is live in the switch all the time
In the light fitting it was ok to do it without turning off the mains as it was only live when the switch was on
Before I get flamed I do recommend turning the fuse box off if your not happy messing with electricity
In the light fitting it was ok to do it without turning off the mains as it was only live when the switch was on
Before I get flamed I do recommend turning the fuse box off if your not happy messing with electricity
Mojo, that wasn't core - it was general muck! The fitting has been up there untouched for about 30 years give or take!
I haven't got round to changing the box yet, but looking at it - it's not gonna be rocket science. It's screwed into a joist, has one cable of three core running to it, and an earth off the switch.
I'll just flick the breaker off, undo the switch plate, undo the wire from the earth point in the box, take the box out, replace it and do a haynes (reassembly is the reverse of removal).
I haven't got round to changing the box yet, but looking at it - it's not gonna be rocket science. It's screwed into a joist, has one cable of three core running to it, and an earth off the switch.
I'll just flick the breaker off, undo the switch plate, undo the wire from the earth point in the box, take the box out, replace it and do a haynes (reassembly is the reverse of removal).
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