Electricians please help me (ceiling light content).

SORRY – WRONG FORUM

So I am trying to replace a ceiling light and an exhaustive internet search has so far only confused the bejaysus out of me.

I have two red wires, two black wires and two earths coming out of the ceiling.

The new light fitting has the expected earth, neutral and live wires.

I do not know which of the wires in the ceiling go to the switch and (lacking a meter) I have just gone for the trial and error method (I am still alive).

So far as I can tell, I’ve tried every combination and so far – no joy. Please can someone explain which wire should attatch to which other wires in words of one syllable? I would be eternally grateful. This should be very simple shouldn’t it?!!

Don’t mess with ‘lectrics unless you know what you are doing.
Get a sparky or competent mate in.

Thanks for the warning and whilst you are probably right, I meant to say in the OP that I really wasn’t looking for posts advising me to get a sparky in. But I’ve said it now 🙂

is it the only light fitting on the circuit?
Is there only one switch?

re to red, black to black, blue to bits. simple……

Stoner – the trip switch stops a few other lights working too when thrown – does this mean they are on the same circuit (I assume it does). There are two switches for the ceiling light.

If you’ve only got 2 twin+earth cables involved, it is the last light on the circuit.
Both reds go in the live terminal (joined together) both earths in the earth terminal, one of the blacks is the neutral & the other is the switched live return from the switch so just join one to each side of the lamp.

ChrisE – that’s what I thought too – I’ve put the live, neutral and earths together. Obviously not that simple…

Why do you need to find which cable goes to the switch? It sound by your description that the live, neutral and earth cables are looped in and out of the light fitting. Does the light switch control a couple of light fittings?

The only way to safely find which cable does go to the switch is to ISOLATE the lighting circuit and prove dead then using a multimeter bell out the live cable, easiest way connect the live and earth at the switch then test at the light fitting. The main thing is to prove the circuit is dead before working on and lock off if possible.

One pair should be live and neutral, the other pair should go to the switch, you really need a meter at the very least. If you connect red to red and black to black and switch on it’ll either go bang straight away or when you try the switch. 🙄

There will be a red and a black going from each ceiling rose to next one in adjacent rooms. Off this red goes a red to light switch which comes back to rose as a black switched live; this connects to brown in light and the blue in light connects to the main black neutral cicuit.
To summerise: the black coming back from the light switch is LIVE and connects to the LIVE in the light fitting.

you are only going to fix this is by using a multi meter as you need to find which is the live supply..which is the neutral supply from that you will know which are your switched lives easy said over tinternet but much harder without correct tools at your end.

Thanks for the advice – I know how frustrating it can be trying to explain something over the internets. Still none the wiser I’m afraid…

@ snaps – that’s almost there;

I’m assuming the live from the light fitting goes with the two live wires coming out the ceiling, yes?

And the earth on the light fitting attatches to the two earths coming out the ceiling?

So the neutral wire on the fitting will attatch to one of the black wires (as yet unidentified) coming out the ceiling – where does that leave the remaining black wire?

Mr Mojo – the two switches only control this one light – I have no multimeter sadly.

EDIT – the posts made whilst I was typing have cleared up a lot of confusion – thanks very much indeed. I shall sally forth for another go…..

It’s like this pic, but without the red and black going off to the right.

(IANAE)

join the 2 reds together and put your tounge on one of the blacks, turn the mcb and the switch on ,if you get frazzled thats your switched live, if not its the other one !
have fun

cheers

I’m assuming the live from the light fitting goes with the two live wires coming out the ceiling, yes?

No, they need to be connected together but not to the light (live in joins to feed wire to switch)
Join the earths to earth terminal.
join blacks to either side of bulb (one is neutral one is switched live from switch) Regs say the black live return should be clearly identified (usually by a red sleeve but often left off/lost)

Look, a light needs a switch, connect it like that and it will be perminantly on: Seriously the black coming from the switch is LIVE and connects to the brown/red in the light fittings; all other blacks connect together!

does one of the blacks have a bit of red tape or a red strap round it? If so, that’ll be the ‘live’ cable which comes back from the switch, and it’s red mate will go ‘to’ the switch…

hey user, this could be our first forum funeral !

Two switches controlling one light so you have a 2 way light switch.

ill do you a deal……………ill stop taking wedding photies if youll stop the amatuer electicals

geoff, nice to see your being electrocuted the the current regulations (bs 7671 2008)

The picture of the light cct is a good start – but PLEASE consult a spark. The fact you are willing to try trial and error with electricity is slightly worrying

geoff, nice to see your being electrocuted the the current regulations (bs 7671 2008)

I’d rather not bugger about with ‘lectrics. But then again, I know a great guy who put a new fuse board in my Edinburgh flat for me. 😉

i hope you recommended him to all your friends 💡

Right! After my last post I went off for a piss, had a ‘lightbulb’ moment’ and realised what everyone was trying to tell me (sorry if you’ve posted in the last twenty mins or so, but thanks anyway!).

I reckon if you stare at something for long enough, your brain ceases to be able to bring logic to a problem. Apparently, going for a quick slash works for me – light now working beautifully and italspark, my apologies, but it is also beautifully insulated – please let me send you some cash for taking the bread out of your mouth.

Thanks again to all for the helpful posts!!

Geoff – I need an electrician. I’d like to have my old fusebox replaced by a nice set of Circuit Breakers. I could also do with a complete check of the house wiring and a wee certificate in respect of some building work that was carried out a couple of years back.

Is there anyone decent you could suggest? No cowboys mind 😉

glad to here your still with us, you had me worried there for a minute. please keep the cash and go to see your doctor about that 20 minute slashing issue before it gets any worse !

druidh, drop us a line to discuss the sparky work
crosscountryATbtinternet.com
cheers

or i could send user boy round .

Are you still alive?