Problem with blown bulbs.

[stardanny]

Hi, don't know if you can help?

I'm a plumber, and my brother keep asked me to change bulb in kitchen a few time ( my brother not very good with DIY ) and the last one blow so I thought there must be a loose connector or bayonet and I advised him it would be best to replace it with a new light fitting and so I replaced it and saw the wiring is a red single core with earth at the side and a grey single core neutral, am I correct this is a single core lighting system? Should we replace it with T & E or leave as it is? The house is a late 1980.

Dan

 

[breaker1]

It will be extremely unlikely for a 1980 house to be wired in singles and if it was the colours would be red and black not grey, are you sure the (singles) are not connected to t&e above the ceiling probably in a connector block by the sound of it, this could also be where the problem is ie a loose connection

 

[stardanny]

Thank you.

I have lift the floorboard near the light fitting and I see that there is a single core with red inner sleeve and grey outer sleeve and a earth core with it. I trace it to a kitchen switch then to lounge light. I had a look at the fuse board and there a single core with earth out and a single core in. It appear that red core run to every switch and a loop from each switch to each light and black core from every light back to board.

It could be earier than 1980. I can't be sure of age of house, it a 3 bed house with garage under.

If you want, I can take a photo of a light fitting.

Dan

 

[RF Lighting]

It it double covered singles.

Very common way of wiring back then, and seems to be making a comeback.


Absoloutly nothing to wory about, and no need to replace the wiring providing it is not damaged.

 

[Click-Sure]

It it double covered singles.

Very common way of wiring back then, and seems to be making a comeback.

Any ideas why?[/code]

 

[securespark]

In my experience, wiring lighting in singles was the way to do it, right from the early days. Initially, drawn conduit was used, with fabric sheathed rubber-insulated singles. Then conduit was abandoned and double insulated rubber singles replaced the fabric-sheathed stuff, then finally pvc/pvc came in.

Why?

Cost!

 

[Click-Sure]

I can fully understand that in the eraly days, but is the cost saving really worth it these days?

 

[securespark]

I suppose so, if you've got an artic full of DI singles + cpc....

 

[Click-Sure]

Will recycled 16mm do?