Upstairs light issue

davidalynsmith · 7 May 2024

I have an issue with my upstairs lighting!!
About 12 months ago I changed the light in the bathroom and recently it started having trouble when I pulled the switch. Now on two of the three bedroom light work, and the landing light and bathroom light do not. I replaced the switches for the landing light and the light fitting in the bathroom and for a few weeks everything was fine, now the problem has returned, where only two of the bedroom lights work again. This one has me properly confused. I have rechecked all of my wiring for loose connections and everything seems fine. Any help is appreciated!!!

ETAF · 7 May 2024

make sure any connections are ON the copper and not insulation , seen this quite a few times , where the screw is not making proper contact
OR are they all wago type connectors

davidalynsmith · 7 May 2024

I checked all that out, this house is very old and on old style red and black cables. With 3 cables dropping into the bathroom

ETAF · 7 May 2024

3 cables most likely - 1st cable - power IN (L,N&E) and then 2nd cable power OUT(L,N&E) to continue supply to the next light , and 3rd (L,SW-L&E) back to the switch to provide a switched LIVE to the bathroom, if really old then likely NO earths

davidalynsmith · 7 May 2024

Thanks, they were all in the same block when I replaced the fitting from the one in previously, is that correct??

ETAF · 7 May 2024

not sure what you mean , ceiling rose
see this site showing a typical ceiling rose light connection with 3 wires

Older colour codes for ceiling rose

Older colour codes as previously used on UK lighting circuits with ceiling roses

flameport.com

SO Not 1 block - but 3 separate blocks in same fitting

davidalynsmith · 7 May 2024

Yeah, mine looks nothing like that, all three red and all three black are in the same connecting block? It's been that way since we moved in over 20 years ago, only just changed the light, but would make sense as to why we have been having problems with the upstairs lights for years! It had a new style light fitted that only has a live and negative terminal block on, and these were connected by two wires that fed up into the ceiling, into several other blocks and so on.... The whole house wiring is a mess and nothing makes any sense! Is there a way of identifying which is the in and out and the common?

ETAF · 7 May 2024

yep with a multimeter - do you have one and know how to use

maybe some photos would help - and the electricians on the forum may reply who are more experiance

all three red and all three black are in the same connecting block? I

if they where all in the same block - blacks and reds - i would expect a trip or fuse to blow as often the black is from the switch is actually live - and so if connected all the blacks that a shortcircuit across live and neutral and so would not work at all....
and if ALL cables in 1 block all connected to each other never would work anywhere on that lighting circuit - fuse would blow or MCB trip and probably any RCD maybe

you sure its just doesnt look like the same block - but actually 3 separate metal connectors , as shown in the diagram i posted

maybe take the swich out (leave wires in) and photograph the wiring there to
does the bathroom have a fan running off the switch ???

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Upstairs light issue

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