Bathroom Light

[robbie123]

Would like some advice whether this problem has a simple solution or do I need to contact an electrician.

I have changed the light in my bathroom today, however when I have turned on the power the light works but will not turn off! Everytime I pull the cord it has no effect!

Can someone please help or suggest where I have gone wrong!
Thanks

 

[RF Lighting]

Have a look here. You need to find out what sort of wiring you have (probably loop in), and follow the diagram to see where you have gone wrong.

//wiki.diynot.com/electrics:lighting:single_way_lighting

 

[Steve]

I bet you connected all the wires with the same colour together.

And I also bet it wasn't wired like that before!

 

[robbie123]

The original light fitting had three red wires connected together, two black ones connected together and a single black on its own.

I assumed the single black was the earth??? and the reds were live and other two black neutral?
HELP

 

[davy_owen_88]

I assumed the single black was the earth???

Why? As has been the case for many many years, the earth is the bare conductor with green or green & yellow sleeving. You may not have an earth if your installation is particularly old.

That single black is the switched live which you need to connect to the live feed of the light fitting. If you have no earth conductor remember you can not fit a metal light fitting.

 

[Spark123]

Thank god you didn't touch an exposed conductive part of the fitting with it switched on, if you did it was a game of russian roulette wether or not you got a shock.
As has been said, the earths are normally bare conductors with green+yellow sleeve. If there is no earths present then only a class 2 double insulated fitting can be used.
The way it most likely was before was all reds together and to nothing else, both blacks together and to the neutral terminal on the fitting, the single black which should have a red sleeve to the live terminal on the fitting, earths if present to the earth terminal if the fitting is class 1. If the old fitting was double insulated and earths present, the earths should have been joined together but not connected to the fitting.

 

[markie]

This reminds me of the job i'm on at the min, the cilents have no earth wire in the lighting system our spark has advised either get it done or don't install an metal fixing. too late him and an friend put one in a few years back. in the living room

 

[Softus]

too late him and an friend put one in a few years back. in the living room

Next to the bowl of holy water, presumably.

 

[markie]

too late him and an friend put one in a few years back. in the living room

Next to the bowl of holy water, presumably.

Not sure about the water bit but he's 71 years old

 

[Softus]

There's no fuel like an old fuel; as the coalman said to the solar panel installer.