lighting question - 2 switched lives

[jonmc1980]

I've just started rewiring a light in my kitchen. When I looked at the wiring config. on the old strip light there are two switched lives. There are in total four sets of wires connected as such:

4 red - all joined
2 black (switched lives) - connection block - brown
2 black neutral - connection block - blue
4 earths - connection block - yellow green

Is this configuration correct? I thought theres usually only one switched live?

 

[ricicle]

Is there another light that comes on with this one ?

Are these twin and earth cables or singles with double sheath or a mixture of both ?

 

[jonmc1980]

Its only the one light that comes on, there is a bathroom light which may run off it and there's an external security light. They are all twin and earth. I've uploaded a pic here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35572173@N07/

 

[ColJack]

why use flickr when you have photo space on this website? it just makes life hard and I hate having to click external links.. that way lies unknown viruses....

anyway, back to the point...

that's a weird configuration..
if you had a second light or a fan then you would have 3 neutrals.. you only have 2..

it sugests a second switch, but then that would also be wrong because you'd have to turn both switches off to turn the lights off..

 

[jonmc1980]

sorry I forgot I had an album on here, i've added it there now for ease

 

[ColJack]

still no use if you don't bother to put the picture in your post..

View media item 10108

 

[jonmc1980]

my bad thanks for the assistance

 

[ricicle]

Looks like a poor attempt at 2 way switching. 2 position rather than proper 2 way ?

 

[jonmc1980]

How should I wire this with the new fitting? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[ColJack]

same, if it ain't broke don't fix it..

it doesn't look like it would be posing a danger, so as long as there's no weird goings on with the neighbours kitchen light coming on for no reason then leave it be...

 

[jockspark]

hi this is just a guess. look in the switch and see if there
is a cable in there that has been disconnected
it does look weird as said above possible bodged
attempt at 2 way switching

 

[matt1e]

its possible there was once A ceiling fan with integral light fitted- it would explain the second switch wire,have a look at the switch end there will probably be two switch wires that end too

 

[jonmc1980]

Thanks for all the advice. Well today I dug out my meter and checked the wires, it turned out one of them wasn't a switched live at all but a neutral. I guess its lucky I never used that light much since I moved in. Still i've no way of knowing how long its been wired that way. Could this have caused any damage?

 

[ColJack]

if it was a neutral then it would have blown the fuse / breaker every time you switched the light on.. a direct short live to neutral..

why do you think it's a neutral?

 

[jonmc1980]

I tested all the wires using a digital tester and only one was detected as switched live. I tried every light switch in my house to make sure and I got nothing except the one.